Dynamic generation and organization of digital circulars

ABSTRACT

A dynamic digital advertising content system having a front end system and a back end system, and used to present product content to a user&#39;s computing device in the form of a digital circular. The back end system provides retailers and third party access to upload, and update, product content information for the digital circular, including videos and animations. The dynamic digital advertising content system can include integrations for third-parties such as digital coupon providers and loyalty program providers. The system permits users the ability to share with other users merchandise displayed in the digital circular and/or selected for a shopping list. Such shared content can be dynamically arranged for subsequent presentation on a computing device of the recipient. The digital circular is further customizable for individual retailers or retailer locations, as well as customizable based on detected histories and/or characteristics of the user receiving the digital circular.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser.No. 18/152,859, filed on Jan. 11, 2023 which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 63/266,709, filed on Jan. 12, 2022,and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/301,278, filed on Jan.20, 2022, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to consumer engagementmaterials, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to the dynamicgeneration and organization of location specific customizable digitalcircular content.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, a variety of venues have been utilized to entice, orotherwise facilitate, consumer purchase of product offerings. Forexample, at least certain entities involved in the sale of consumerproducts have utilized print, radio, television, internet, and/or cableto communicate to consumers product sales and discounts, among otherproduct related promotions. Certain businesses or organizations havepromoted product offerings via printed publications in the form ofweekly circulars that can be, for example, bundled with newspapers anddelivered to consumers' residences and/or made available at the entranceto an associated entity or franchise of the business or organization. Anelectronic version of such circulars can also be provided in a portabledocument format (e.g., .pdf file format). Such .pdf file formatcirculars can be distributed through internet channels for viewing on apersonal computing device, which can include, for example, a mobile orportable hand held computing device.

The provision of digital circulars can permit positive engagementbetween customers and retailers, and thus remains an area of interest.However, the .pdf file format of current digital circulars can belimiting, particularly with respect to customization in terms of boththe presentation and arrangement of product offerings from retailers.Further, such digital circulars are limited and/or incapable, ofresponding, let alone adapting, to specific direct interaction byconsumer engagement with the digital circular via the personal computingdevice. Further, when viewing such digital circulars on at least mobileand portable personal computing devices, such limitations also ofteninclude a need to relatively continuously zoom and/or pan in on at leastportions of digital circular so as to clearly view a limited portion ofthe circular. Existing systems therefore have various shortcomingsrelative to certain applications. Accordingly, there remains a need forfurther contributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system that displays adigital circular to a user based on spatial positioning and dynamiccontent dynamically selected to visually organize and display aplurality of circular content items included in the digital circular.The system includes at least one processor, and a memory coupled withthe processor. The memory including instructions that when executed bythe processor cause the processor to receive from an end user aselection of a digital circular location. The digital circular locationis associated with a retail location that the end user requests to viewthe digital circular based on a current time frame that the userexecutes the selection of the digital circular location. The processoris configured to request the digital circular that includes a pluralityof item cards created based on a plurality of item card parameters thatare customized to the digital circular location and current time of theselected digital circular location from a digital circular generationsystem based on the digital circular location. The item card parametersare indicative to a presentation of each item card as displayed in thedigital circular and are customized to a retailer priority of a digitalcircular retailer associated with the digital circular location toadvertise to the user and to a purchase priority of the user to purchaseretail items from the digital circular retailer. The processor isconfigured to receive the digital circular that includes the pluralityof item cards from the digital circular generation system that arespatially positioned into a corresponding item card partition of adigital circular grid for the digital circular. The processor is furtherconfigured to instruct a display to dynamically display each item cardin an item card position and an item card size associated with each itemcard partition to prioritize the display of each item card in thedigital circular based on the item card parameters. Each item card isdynamically formatted with item card content to dynamically display eachitem card with the item card content as spatially positioned in thedigital circular grid to prioritize the display of the item card contentbased on the item card parameters. The processor is further configuredto instruct the display to dynamically adjust the display to displayupdates to the digital circular grid based on updates to the item cardcontent. The spatial position of each item card as displayed by thedisplay is dynamically adjusted as the item card parameters associatedwith each item card are updated.

In an embodiment, a method may be implemented for displaying a digitalcircular to a user based on spatial positioning and dynamic contentdynamically selected to visually organize and display a plurality ofcircular content items included in the digital circular. The method mayinclude receiving from an end user a selection of a digital circularlocation. The digital circular location is associated with a retaillocation that the end user requests to view the digital circular basedon a current time frame that the user executes the selection of thedigital circular location. The method may further include requesting thedigital circular that includes a plurality of item cards created basedon a plurality of item card parameters that are customized to thedigital circular location and current time of the selected digitalcircular location from a digital circular generation system based on thedigital circular location. The item card parameters are indicative to apresentation of each item card as displayed in the digital circular andare customized to a retailer priority of a digital circular retailerassociated with the digital circular location to advertise to the userand to a purchase priority of the user to purchase retail items from thedigital circular retailer. The method may further include receiving thedigital circular that includes the plurality of item cards from thedigital circular generation system that are spatially positioned into acorresponding item card partition of a digital circular grid for thedigital circular. The method may further include instructing a displayto dynamically display each item card in an item card position and anitem card size associated with each item card partition to prioritizethe display of each item card in the digital circular based on the itemcard parameters. Each item card is dynamically formatted with item cardcontent to dynamically display each item card with the item card contentas spatially positioned in the digital circular grid to prioritize thedisplay of the item card content based on the item card parameters. Themethod may further include instructing the display to dynamically adjustthe display to display updates to the digital circular grid based onupdates to the item card content. The spatial position of each item cardas displayed by the display is dynamically adjusted as the item cardparameters associated with each item card are updated.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique dynamic digitaladvertising content system. Other embodiments include apparatuses,systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for quick assemblyof print circulars and/or dynamically viewing the same. Furtherembodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of thepresent application shall become apparent from the description andfigures provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of an embodiment of a dynamic digitaladvertising content system (DDACS).

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary table containing product content anddigital circular display information for the associated products thatcan be maintained at a back end system of the DDACS.

FIG. 3 illustrates a dynamic digital advertising content system that canaccommodate interactions between a user and a retailer/client.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a retail media network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of consumer devices engaged in a processof sharing a link or a card from a digital circular.

FIG. 6 depicts another example of consumer devices engaged in a processfor sharing a link to a category of cards from a digital circular.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of consumer devices being used in theselection of a digital media ad for a category of products and beingrouted to a website having an associated category of cards for the firstcategory of products displayed in the circular ad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to enabling a user of adigital circular (e.g. a customer of a retailer or customer of acompetitive retailer) to view the digital circular generated at least inpart based on information stored in a back end system 70 system. Thedigital circular in one form is based on spatial positioning and dynamiccontent dynamically selected to visually organize and display aplurality of circular content items included in the digital circular. Inan example embodiment, the digital circular is displayed on a systemhaving at least one processor and a memory coupled with the processor,the memory including instructions that cause the processor to receivethe digital circular based on a user a selection of a digital circularlocation. Such a system capable of displaying digital circularsaccording to location permit a retailer to customize the circular forthat particular location in lieu of creating a regional and/or nationalwide circular which may not reflect consumer products which are onlylocally available to the user. A back end system 70 system complementsthe front end system 68 system and likewise includes at least oneprocessor and a memory coupled with the processor, the memory includinginstructions that cause the processor to process content related to thedigital circular based on the selection of the user of the digitalcircular location. Content capable of being processed on the back endsystem 70 can be uploaded by a client (e.g. a retailer) and/or retrievedand/or formed by the back end system 70 based upon a client request. Thecontent can relate to the products to be displayed by the front endsystem 68 and associated content.

Various functions of and interactions between the front end system 68and the back end system 70 are contemplated, including those related tovarious other entities/engines/networks. To set forth just a fewnon-limiting examples, third-party providers of services such as loyaltyprograms can interact with the back end system 70 to facilitate trackingand possible redemption of loyalty points with respect to purchases bythe user. In some embodiments the various entities/engines/networks canexist separate from the front end system 68 and/or back end system 70,but in some forms can be integrated therewith. Continuing with a fewother examples, the back end system 70 can include a portal throughwhich a client (e.g. a retailer) uploads configuration information usedby the back end system 70 to determine the layout of the digitalcircular. The back end system 70 can also include and/or be integratedwith a personalization AI engine useful to ingest purchase history of auser to provide a customized digital circular. Various otherentities/engines/networks are described in greater detail further below.

In the Detailed Description herein, references to “one embodiment”, an“embodiment”, and “example embodiment”, etc., indicate that theembodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, by every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesare not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic may be described inconnection with an embodiment, it may be submitted that it may be withinthe knowledge of one skilled in art to affect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

The following Detailed Description refers to the accompanying drawingsthat illustrate exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments are possible,and modifications can be made to the embodiments within the spirit andscope of this description. Those skilled in the art with access to theteachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications,applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additionalfields in which embodiments would be of significant utility. Therefore,the Detailed Description is not meant to limit the embodiments describedbelow.

System Overview

FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of an embodiment of a dynamic digitaladvertising content system or digital circular generation system(“DDACS”) 50, including a relationship between a user 52 and aretailer/client. The user 52 can be any person, user, organization,and/or entity, among others, that may be interested in perusing and/orpurchasing products, goods, and/or services (collectively referred toherein as “product” or “products”) that are offered by, and/or through,the retailer/client. The retailer/client can be a person, organization,entity, business, seller, merchant, store, store chain, and/orfranchise, among other entities, that is/are offering a product(s) forsale. As used herein, the term “retailer” or “client” can be usedinterchangeably as the terms can refer to a business or otherorganization engaged in the business of promoting and/or selling theproduct(s) to the user 52. As also discussed below, the DDACS 50 canalso be operable to accommodate communications and engagement with/bythird party participants other than the user 52 and retailer, including,for example, third party participants such as digital coupon providersand/or loyalty program providers, among others.

The DDACS 50 is adapted to accommodate generation of a digital circularthat is customizable at least at an individual store, franchisee, and/orretailer specific level, as well as also be customizable among groupswithin an entity or organization and/or the entire entity ororganization. As discussed below, the DDACS 50 can be dynamic in atleast terms of the arrangement and/or presentation of information,including product content, in the digital circular in response toretailer and/or user 52 decisions and/or selections. Such engagementwith the DDACS 50 by a user 52, retailer, and/or third party, includingvia the inputting of information and/or responses in/to the DDACS 50,can occur in via use of a digital advertising content communicationsdevice, including via use of user interfaces provide by, orcommunicatively coupled to, digital advertising content communicationsdevices. Moreover, a retailer, consumer 52, and/or third party can beable to engage with the DDACS 50 via use of a variety of different typesof digital advertising content communications devices, includingpersonal computing devices, such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet,smart phone, and/or mobile or cellular device, among other computingdevices.

According to certain embodiments, the DDACS 50 includes at least a frontend system 68 and a back end system 70. The front end system 68 caninclude instructions for the display of product content and/or retailerinformation, among other information, on a user interface of a computingdevice. Moreover, as discussed below in more detail, the front endsystem 68 can be utilized to generate and/or transmit information in theform of a digital circular for presentation on the computing device ofthe user 52, and/or for engagement with the user 52. For example,according to certain embodiments, the front end system 68, or the backend system 70, can generate a digital circular in which informationregarding products, also referred to as product content, among otherinformation, can be arranged and/or presented for display on thepersonal computing device of the user 52. Additionally, the front endsystem 68 can receive inputs, such as, for example, selections, made bythe user 52 via a user interface or input device of the personalcomputing device, including, for example, via a touch screen, keypad,and/or mouse, among others. According to certain embodiments, the frontend system 68 is, or includes, a graphical user interface of a websitethat permits interaction by a user 52 with content published by theretailer via the DDACS 50.

In at least some instances, communications between the user 52, andmoreover a computing device of the user 52, and the front end system 68can occur via a channel 72. According to certain embodiments, thechannel 72 can accommodate information from the front end system 68being provided to the user 52 in the form of an on-line content, suchas, for example, in the form of a website and/or software application(“app.”) that is accessible by the consumer 52, and which permitsconsumer interaction with content published by the retailer through theDDACS 50. As will be appreciated, the website utilized with/for thechannel 72 can be rendered either on the front end system 68 or back endsystem 70, and in some forms can use isomorphic rendering with a renderon the back end system 70 first and on the front end system 68thereafter.

The channel 72 can be configured to accommodate communication between acomputing device of a user 52 and the front end system 68 using anysuitable type of wired and/or wireless connection, as well as via anysuitable type of communication protocol, telecommunications hardware,and associated software. Thus, the connection 72 can be, but is notlimited to, an internet enabled communication, a wireless connection(e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and, cellular, etc.), or a wireline connection(e.g., utilizes infrastructure delivering telecommunications toresidences and or buildings). In short, any suitable digital mediumthrough which a computing device of the user 52 can interact with thefront end system 68 and view content related to the digital circularsdescribed herein is contemplated. The computing devices of users 52 mayalso interact with the DDACS 50 via through a retailer's native softwareapplication, a downloaded Progressive Web App (PWA), or via a retailer'swebsite, including, but not limited to, a webpage or link to the DDACS50 that is embedded directly on the retailer's website.

The back end system 70 can generally be configured to accommodate inputand/or content from a specific, or individual, retailer with respect toat least products or services that can be presented in the digitalcircular. According to certain embodiments, the back end system 70 is aweb-based software platform that can provide content management accessfor retailer websites, including, for example, content management can beperformed by the retailer(s) and/or third parties. Further, the back endsystem 70 can be utilized for prioritizing the products that are to bepresented in the digital circular, and/or the timing or duration atwhich specific products can be presented in the digital circular, amongother features. According to certain embodiments, a client portal 128can be provided that provides retailers access to the back end system 70via a channel 132. Such a portal 128 can, for example, be a web-basedsoftware platform that is accessible to a retailer or other operator viaa computing device.

The connection 132 between the client portal 128 and the back end system70 can provide direct control over content management within the backend system 70. Thus, each retailer can have retailer specificcredentials that can allow the retailer to at least access the back endsystem 70, and which may be utilized to access other features of thesystem 50, including the below discussed retail media network 108.Accordingly, access to the back end system 70 via the client portal 128can also involve satisfaction of certain security measures, such as, forexample, a password and/or two factor authentication. Additionally,permissions can be enabled to provide users of the back end system 70control over different areas of the associated website for thatparticular retailer, including control over portions of the website thatmay be accessible to customers 52 via the front end system 68.

Retailers can, via the client portal 128 and associated channel 132,provide or otherwise input a variety of information regarding aplurality of products to the back end system 70. Thus, for example,according to certain embodiments, the back end system 70 can comprise adatabase, data store, or other storage means. The manner in whichproduct information can be provided, stored, edited, and/or removed by aretailer to/from the back end system 70 can vary. For example, accordingto certain embodiments, the back end system 70 can maintain a listing,such as, for example, a spreadsheet or table, among other manners ofrecording information regarding products. It will be appreciated thatother types of data encapsulation and transfer to the back end system 70are contemplated, such as, but not limited to serialization of the dataand transfer via API calls. Additionally, or alternatively, individualretailers can, via use of the client portal 128, upload information tothe back end system 70, such as, for example, upload a spreadsheet filecontaining text and artwork, among other product content, for one ormore products. Further, data can be uploaded to the back end system 70in a variety of other, or additional, manners, including, but notlimited to, via a dynamic connection between the back end system 70 andone or more databases of the retailer(s), including, but not limited to,back office software, point of sales, and/or e-commerce systems, amongother measures of data storage, as well as combinations thereof. Such aconfiguration can accommodate an uploading of relatively large amountsof information by the retailer to the back end system 70. Further, inaddition to, or in lieu of, individual stores uploading information, theback end system 70 can also include nodes that can accommodate anuploading of product content that can be shared by different retailers,including, for example, shared by different branches or franchisees thatmay be related to a common parent organization or entity. In someembodiments the back end system 70 can be configured to create storegroups which are useful to create efficiency in content management. Thestore groups can provide nodes where content can be uploaded for storesthat share like content.

Accordingly, the back end system 70 can be utilized to archive andorganize data related to a digital circular, including, for example,information related to product, value/pricing, promotional start andstop dates, among other data.

A non-limiting example of information that can be provided or uploadedto the back end system 70 is shown by the exemplary spreadsheet or table20 shown in FIG. 2 . While FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary use of aspreadsheet 20, as discussed above, information can be provided to theback end system 70 in a variety of other manners, including, but notlimited to, via a dynamic connection. As seen by the exemplaryspreadsheet or table 20 depicted in FIG. 2 , according to suchembodiment, such a spreadsheet 20 can include either rows or columnsthat correspond to a product(s), and the other of the rows or columnscan relate to characteristics, features, and/or sales for the products.For example, referencing the example shown in FIG. 2 , according tocertain embodiments, each row in the spreadsheet 20 can correspond to adifferent product (e.g. Product #1, Product #2, etc.), and the columnsof the spreadsheet 20 can correspond to features or characteristicsrelating to the product and/or the sale of the product. Thus, in such anexample, for each product, there may be one or product descriptorcategories 22, one or more product sales categories 24, and/or one ormore product display categories 26.

Product descriptor categories 22 can include, but are not limited to, anindication of a category to which the product can be grouped (e.g. meat,candy, dairy, cleaning supply, pastry, beverage, etc.), brand name,manufacturer, product size, and/or product quantities, among othercharacteristics or features of the product. With respect to at least thecategory to which the product can be grouped, group options availablefor selection when entering a particular product into the table can bepredetermined

The one or more product sales categories 24 can include, for example,the sale price of the product, product discount or rebate information,and start and end dates for a sale of the product is to be available fordisplay on the circular that is to be generated by the DDACS 50.

The one or more product display categories 26 can include an indication,or location, of the artwork that is to be used, if any, for theparticular product in the circular, a size in a digital circular gridfor the digital circular that the information regarding the productincluding artwork, is to occupy in a digital circular grid for thedigital circular, and whether the product is to be hidden with at leasta first level of the circular. According to certain embodiments, theproduct display categories 26 can also include dates and/or timedurations that the particular product is to be, or can be, displayed inthe circular. The artwork for each product can correspond to a staticimage, animation, and/or video that can be stored by the back end system70 and/or accessible or retrievable from a third party service. Examplesof animations can include a looping animation. Animations shown forassociated products in the digital circular can play automatically whenthe user 52 scrolls to a locations about the digital circular at whichthe product is shown in the display of the user computing device. Itwill be appreciated that animations can included not only moving images,but also relevant product details such as product name and/or price,among other information. In some forms the animation may run in thebackground while relevant product details remain in the foreground. Toenable the animation, a user such as the retailer can upload theanimation to the back end system 70, or the back end system 70 can beconfigured to extract a looped animation from a larger video. Forexample, according to certain embodiments, the artwork can correspond toa link to a video that is accessible via use of the YouTube™ Dataapplication programming interface (API).

Additionally, as discussed below, the information from one or more ofthe product descriptor categories 22, product sales categories 24,and/or product display categories 26, as well as information provided bythose categories 22, 24, 26 can be utilized to prioritize which productcontent is to be displayed in the digital circular, and/or assist in theordering and positioning of content for different products in a digitalcircular grid of the digital circular.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 4 , according to certain embodiments, the DDACS50 can also include a retail media network 108. The retail media network108 can be configured to assist retailers with connecting advertisingpartners with placement in the front end system 68, including withrespect to placement in the digital circular, and/or targeted digitalmedia campaigns. Moreover, the retail medial network 108 can provide aweb-based portal 302, as seen in FIG. 4 that can be directly accessed byretailers, agents that represent retailers, or advertising partners, sothat those entities can initiate a media buy within the front end system68 and/or in a distribution system 74. The web-based portal 302 of theretail media network 108 can also be used to communicate the details ofthe product content that such entities would like to publish, as well asbe used to upload related artwork that may be utilized by the back endsystem 70. According to certain embodiments, the client portal can beconnected to the retail media network 108 via a connection 130 that canenable retailers access to the retail media network 108 using theirclient portal credentials. Retailers may have third parties manage theiradvertising partners content and provide access by creating a new userin their Client Portal.

The retail media network 108 can also utilize media filters 304, whichcan include personality profiles of potential users within the mediaspace, and in particular in the digital circular, to target an audiencebased on input by advertising partners. In some embodiments the retailmedia network 108 can also utilize banner filters 306 to focus mediacampaigns and/or content management to specific banner(s) 300 within aretailer's purview. In addition, in some embodiments the retail medianetwork 108 can utilize location filters 308 to focus media campaignand/or content management to a store or set of stores based on location.Additionally, in some forms the retail media network 108 can utilizereward filters 311 in which personality profiles based on rewards(loyalty) program purchase history is utilized to target an audiencebased on input by advertising partners.

Additionally, as also seen in FIG. 4 , to aid in at least efficientmanagement of digital content that can received by the back end system70, and/or published by the front end system 68, the retail medianetwork 108 can be organized by groups 310. Such groups 310 cancorrespond to a collection of stores 320 that may part of a largerorganization 312, and which serve and/or have at least digitalinteractions with customers 52. Moreover, according to certainembodiments, the stores 320 in FIG. 4 can represent individual websitesof individual retailers, including, for example, a unique websites foreach retailer. According to such embodiments, the customers 52 shown inFIG. 4 can represent all views or viewers of the “stores”, or theretailer websites.

The distribution system 74 can be configured to drive user 52, orvirtual traffic, to the on-line content provided by the front end system68, and more specifically, to the website(s) associated with individualretailer(s). The distribution system 74 can be adapted to utilize avariety of different tactics or approaches to drive customers to suchon-line content, including, for example, via targeted medial buys. Forexample, the distribution system 74 can place ads in certain, ortargeted, software applications or websites. In response to consumer 52interaction with such ads, such as via user engagement with the userinterface of a computing device, the consumer 52 can be taken to theretailer specific website, and, moreover, the website that for aspecific, individual retailer or store.

The distribution system 74 can also be configured to interact with theconsumer 52 via an information pipeline 76. For example, users 52 caninteract with the distribution system 74 by engaging with certain typesof online content, such as, for example, interacting with on-lineadvertising that may be in the form of web sites, results from anon-line search, connected home devices, and/or software applications,among other online content. For example, while engaging with thedistribution system 74 the user 52 may see and engage with anadvertisement from/for a retailer, at which point the user 52 is driventhrough channel 72 to connect with the front end system 68.

According to certain embodiments, the distribution system 74 can also beconfigured to have an audience targeting system 78. The audiencetargeting system 78 can be adapted to selectively direct particularproduct information, including advertisements, to a user 52 based on, orusing, information that has been obtained for that particular user 52,and which may be stored, for example, in a database of the distributionsystem 74 and/or the audience targeting system 78, among other databasesof the DDACS 50, For example, the audience targeting system 78 can beadapted to utilized at least location information, such as, globalpositioning system (GPS) information from a computing device, includingmobile devices, of the user, to identify the proximity of the user 52 tospecific retailers. Such proximity information can be utilized todetermine the retailer website to which the user 52 is to be directed.Further, target audiences can be built using the audience targetingsystem 78 at a given moment in time, and/or across a time span, usingone or more different measures including, or, alternatively, other than,location information for the user 52, such as, for example, onlinesearch history(ies) and credit card usage data, among other information.

The distribution system 74 can also be configured to include avisitation reporting system 82. The visitation reporting system 82 canbe configured to monitor, and/or record within a database of thevisitation reporting system 82, information regarding interaction ofusers 52 with targeted digital media ads of a particular retailer, andmoreover, a website for that particular, or individual, retailer. Thevisitation reporting system 82 can be further adapted to detect, suchas, for example, via location tracking of a computing device of the user52, a subsequent physical presence of the user 52 at that particularretailer, such as, for example, at a brick-and-mortar retail location ofthat particular retailer. Information regarding the monitoring of userinteraction with a particular retailer's website, and subsequentdetection of the physical presence of the user 52 at the retailer, asindicated through the location of a computing device of the user 52 atthe retailer, can be recorded in as a visitation report in a database ofthe visitation reporting system 82, among other portions of the of thedistribution system 74 and/or DDACS 50.

Data from such visitation reporting can be used for a variety ofpurposes and/or different types of reports. For example, such visitationreporting can permit the distribution system 74 to produce a locationspecific store visitation quantity, such as, for example, a total numberof visits, total number of visits per user 52, and/or histograms ofstore visitations by hour of day, among other reporting. Informationregarding visitations that is stored by the visitation reporting system82 can also be used to determine a value associated with such thevisitations. For example, according to certain embodiments, the numberof user visitations for customers that interacted with the retailer'swebsite, as provided by the DDACS 50, can be compared with associatedadvertising costs incurred by the retailer to derive a cost per uservisit report(s) for the retailer. Such reports can, for example, provideinformation regarding costs per visits during certain selected timeperiods. Additionally, such information can also provide a variety ofother customer analytics, such as, for example, the percentage of users52 who interact the retailer's website that then visited the retailer'slocation that were new, repeat, and/or relatively long term absenteecustomers in terms of either, or both, visiting the website and/orphysically coming to the retailer's physical store or location.

The distribution system 74 can also include an artificial intelligence(AI) engine 80. According to certain embodiments, the AI engine 80 is aneural network that can utilize recorded and/or stored information toimprove the accuracy in identifying potential users 52 and/or targetaudiences that may be responsive to information outputted by thedistribution system 74, as well as outputted from other portions of theDDACS 50. Moreover, improving the accuracy in identifying users 52 towhich particular types of different content, including content in theform of digital circulars, from the distribution system 74 and/or DDACS50 is to be directed can improve the efficiency of the distributionsystem 74. Further, over time, as data relating to the users 52 isaccumulated by at least portions of the distribution system 74,including, by the audience targeting system 78 and/or the visitationreporting system 82, among other portions of the DDACS 50, the neuralnetwork of the AI engine 80 can further refine the effectiveness in theoperation of the distribution system 74. Such improvements in refiningthe identification of target users 52 or audiences via use of a neuralnetwork of the AI learning engine 80 can result in an improvement in theefficiency of at least the distribution system 74, including, forexample, with respect to reducing the cost per user visit (as discussedabove with respect to visitation reporting), improve click through rates(CTR), as well as improving other key performance indicators (KPI).

According to certain embodiments, the accumulated, or inputted, data orinformation from at least the audience targeting system 78 and/or thevisitation reporting system 82 can be used by the AI engine 80, and,moreover, the neural network that is provided by the AI engine 80, inconnection with training and/or for machine based learning of the neuralnetwork. For example, historical information regarding past behaviors,responses, and/or actions/inactions of users 52 when engaging/notengaging content provided via the distribution system 74, among otherportions of the DDACS 50, can be used by the neural network of the AIengine 80 in connection with a pattern analysis, as well as refinementof identified patterns. Such analysis can assist the neural network ofthe AI engine 80 in developing and/or refining a model that can providea prediction of characteristics of users 52 that may, or may not, beresponsive to particular types of content presented by the distributionsystem 74 and/or DDACS 50. Such information can thereby assist inidentifying particular users 52, or users 52 having particularcharacteristics, to which to target, and/or those users 52 to nottarget, with particular content. According to certain embodiments, theneural network of the AI engine 80 can apply such data and informationto one or more models, and, moreover, one or more neural networkalgorithms, such as, but not limited to, a multilayer perceptron (MLP),a restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), a convolution neural network(CNN), and/or any other neural network algorithm that will be apparentto those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure.

The DDACS 50, and, more specifically, the front end system 68, can alsoinclude a sharing engine 114 that can be communicatively coupled to thedistribution system 74 via a connection 126, as well as communicativelycoupled to the computing device of a user 52 via a connection 122.According to certain embodiments, connections with the sharing engine114 can be made using a tool built into a browser or softwareapplication (“app.”) that enables a special hyperlink to be sent. Suchspecial hyperlink can be sent in a variety of manners, including in atext message, an email, or copied by the user and pasted elsewhere.Further, as represented by the connection 124 shown in FIG. 1 ,according to certain embodiments, the sharing engine 114 can be builtdirectly into a user interface that is displayed on the computing deviceof the user, thereby providing users with relatively easy access tosharing functionality.

The sharing engine 114 can be configured to permit a user 52 to sharecontent, such as, for example, content from or corresponding to adigital circular, and in the form of a hyperlink, with another user(s)52. The hyperlink can correspond to information provided by, or in, adigital circular. Further, such sharing of content can occur using avariety of different types of electronic communication, including, forexample, via a text message and/or email, among other forms ofelectronic communication. As further discussed below in connection withFIGS. 5 and 6 , if a user choses to share content with one or more otherusers 52, the shared hyperlink can contain special codes that cantrigger a rearrangement of the visual depicting of the content on thecomputing device of the share recipient.

As also illustrated in FIG. 1 , according to certain embodiments, theDDACS 50 can further include a third party integration system 84. Thethird party integration system 84 can be adapted to provide an accesspoint for third parties to access the DDACS 50. As discussed below, suchaccess by third parties can, for example, reduce the burden on retailersby allowing third parties to supply and/or update product, productcontent, and/or advertising information that is provided to the back endsystem 70. Such access can also allow the third parties to receiveinformation directly or indirectly from users 52, thereby furtherreducing the amount of data or associated activities that retailers haveto manage and/or track. By allowing the retailer to combine technicalresources to streamline the management process, third party integrationsystem 84 can provide an improved experience for the user 52.

The third party integration system 84 can be adapted to establish one ormore third party integrations. For example, the exemplary embodimentdepicted in FIG. 1 has four third party integrations, namely, anelectronic commerce (“e-commerce”) integration 86, a digital couponintegration 88, and loyalty program integration 90, and a point of salesintegration 92. According to certain embodiments, all third partyintegrations are contemplated to communicate with the back end system70. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , at least certainintegrations 86, 88 can, in addition to, or in lieu of, beingcommunicatively coupled to the back end system 70, can be directly orindirectly communicatively coupled to the front end system 68, such as,for example, by communication links 94, 96, 98, while other integrations90, 92 can be directly or indirectly communicatively coupled to the backend system end system 70 by other communication links 102, 104. Thecommunication links 94, 96, 98, 102, 104 can take a variety of forms,including, for example, be provided by a API, file integration, filetransfer protocol (FTP), extract, transform and load (ETL), or a dynamicconnection, as well as combinations thereof, among others.

The e-commerce integration 86 can correspond to an integration of aretailer and/or the DDACS 50 with a third party e-commerce provider.Such an integration can provide a third party e-commerce provider accessto the DDACS 50 so that the e-commerce provider can upload content tothe back end system 70, including updated product information, such as,but not limited to, information including sale offerings, promotionalmaterials, product offerings, and/or price discounts, among otherinformation, for products from the e-commerce provider that are sold bythe retailer. Allowing third party e-commerce provider to provide suchinformation to the back end system 70, can reduce a content managementburden on the retailer, particularly when the retailer would otherwisereceive such updated information from a plurality of different a thirdparty e-commerce providers for a plurality of different products.

Such access to DDACS 50 by third party e-commerce providers, and,moreover, access provided by the e-commerce integration 86, can also beconfigured to manage the sale and/or distribution of products that arepurchased by a user 52. For example, the e-commerce integration 86,among other portions of the DDACS 50, accommodates items selected forthe purchase by the user 52 while using the front end system 68 to bestored in a virtual shopping cart for that user 52. The e-commerceintegration 86 can accommodate, with or without the knowledge of theuser 52, items or products of the e-commerce provider in the shoppingthat are being sold by or through the retailer to an area that isretrievable by the associated third party e-commerce provider. Suchmovement of products can happen automatically each time a user 52 addsan item to their shopping cart, and/or can happen manually after a user52 has built a shopping list by and has proceed to checkout or otherwisecomplete the purchase of the item(s) in the shopping list of the user52.

The digital coupon integration 88 can be adapted to allow users 52 toview digital coupon offerings from third parties, including, but notlimited to, product manufacturers or distributors, among others,directly within the front end system 68. Such coupons, and/orcorresponding hyperlinks or other information, can be virtually clippedor otherwise stored to a virtual wallet of the user 52 within the frontend system 68. The digital coupon integration 88 can also be configuredto accommodate third parties offering such coupons, or other salesincentives, to personalize such coupons for certain users 52, groups ofusers 52, and/or target audiences. Additionally, or alternatively,digital coupons can be configured to be store or retailer specific, suchas, for example, being specific to a particular store or retailerlocation.

The loyalty program integration 90 can correspond to loyalty programsoffered by third parties, such as, for example, programs offered bythird party manufacturers or distributors, among others, whose productsare sold by retailers of the DDACS 50. According to certain embodiments,embodiments, such loyalty program integration 90 can provide such thirdparties to historical information maintained by the DDACS 50, and/ormaintained by the DDACS 50 for specific pre-identified retailers. Suchhistorical information can include a purchase history of users 52 on anindividual, retailer, and/or on a product basis, as well as combinationsthereof. Further, the loyalty program integration 90 can accommodateretailers having access to loyalty program information that ismaintained by third parties, such as, for example, points accrued in aloyalty program(s) and/or user 52 eligibility for pricing or otherbenefits based on certain achievements the user 52 has obtained throughparticipation in the loyalty program(s).

The point of sales integration 92 can provide visibility into storelevel inventory and pricing. For example, the point of sales integration92 can provide third parties with access to information, on a retailerlevel, related to available inventory and pricing relating to productsof, or relating to, the third party that are being sold through or bythe retailer. The point of sales integration 92 can also provide thirdparties with access to sales information, sales quantity, prices paidfor products, and details regarding the particular users 52 thatpurchased particular products, including personal identificationinformation and/or demographics for those users 52.

As seen in FIG. 1 , at least portions of the third party integrationsystem 84, such as, for example, the loyalty program integration 90and/or the point of sales integration 92 can be communicatively coupledto a personalization artificial intelligence (AI) engine 100 of theDDACS 50. According to certain embodiments, the personalization AIengine 100 is part of the back end system 70. According to certainembodiments, the personalization AI engine 100 is a neural network thatcan utilize recorded and/or stored information to build personalityprofiles. Such personality profiles can relate to predictions relatingto the types of product(s) a user 52, and/or users 52 having one or moreparticular types of identified characteristics, may, or may not, belikely purchase, and/or the types of advertising, discounts, and/orincentives that may, or may not, generate product sales from that/thoseidentified user(s) 52. Further predictions generated by the a neuralnetwork of the personalization AI engine 100 may result in areorganization, or personalization in the arrangement, of products orcategories of products that are presented to the user 52 via dynamicdigital advertising content, such as a digital circular of the subjectdisclosure, that is displayed on display of the computing device of theuser 52. Additionally, and/or alternatively, such personalization caninvolve certain products being removed from, and/or certain productsbeing added to, a current generic version of the digital circular,thereby further personalizing the dynamic digital advertising contentthat is depicted in the digital circular that is presented to theuser(s) 52. The personalization attained via use of the prediction(s)from the personalization AI engine 100 can also include a generation anddisplay of an ancillary personal webpage of that particular user 52,such as, for example, a “Just For Me” webpage, that can be displayed onthe computing device of the corresponding user(s) 52. Such an ancillarypersonal webpage can be provided and populated with products selectedbased on predictions made by the neural network of the personalizationAI engine 100 as to products most likely be purchased by that user 52.

According to certain embodiments, the accumulated, or inputted, data orinformation used by the neural network of the personalization AI engine100 in developing a model(s) and/or identifying patterns, can includepurchase history data, demographic information regarding the users 52and the associated purchase history of those users 52, reward and/orloyalty program data or purchase history, and point of sale information.As seen in FIG. 1 , at least a portion of information used to developand refine the model(s) utilized by the neural network of thepersonalization AI engine 100, including in connection withself-learning, can be provided by the retail media network 108, theloyalty program integration 90 and/or the point of sales integration 92of the third party integration system 84, among other portions of theback end system 70. However, the training and/or for machine basedlearning of the neural network of the personalization AI engine 100 canbased on, or include, a variety of other types of information, includingother information maintained by, or accessible to, the DDACS 50regarding past behaviors, responses, and/or actions/inactions of users52. Such analysis can assist the neural network of the AI engine 100 indeveloping and/or refining a model that can provide a prediction ofcharacteristics of users 52 that may, or may not, be responsive toparticular types of content presented in digital circulars, and,moreover, a prediction of the content to presented in a digital circularthat can successfully facilitate sale of product(s). According tocertain embodiments, the neural network of the personalization AI engine100 can apply such data and information to one or more models, and,moreover, one or more neural network algorithms, such as, but notlimited to, a multilayer perceptron (MLP), a restricted BoltzmannMachine (RBM), a convolution neural network (CNN), and/or any otherneural network algorithm that will be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

A variety of different type of communication protocols can be used inconnection with the connections 102, 104, 106, 108 between the AI engine100 with the third party integration system 84, the retail media network108, and the back end system 70, including, for example, API, FTP ETL,and/or dynamic connections.

The ability to dynamically interact with promotional literature, such asdigital circulars, can ease the shopping experience for users 52 bymaking shopping more appealing and efficient. Embodiments of the DDACS50 can provide users 52 with the ability to relatively rapidly call upspecific retailer locations and have access to up-to-date information onpromotional items being offered by that retailer. Unlike traditionalprinted promotional circulars, retailers will also be able to update thecontent and customize, for purposes of display on the digital circular,the same with graphics, including animated graphics, without the need towait for promotional cycle frequency. Further, unlike traditionalprinted promotional circulars, the DDACS 50 of the subject disclosureprovides the ability include embedded videos and recipes in a digitalcircular, which can deliver useful content to users 52. Additionally, bythe DDACS 50 enabling users 52 to share content with other users 52,including individual merchandise promotions and/or embedded content, amore rapid dissemination of information between users 52 can occur.

While the DDACS 50 shown in FIG. 1 and discussed above has variousfeatures, not all embodiments of the DDACS 50 need include eachelement/capability/connection indicated by the various referencenumerals of FIG. 1 . Moreover, come embodiments may include fewer of theelements/capabilities/connections discussed above and indicated by thevarious reference numerals of FIG. 1 .

Digital Circular and Digital Circular Grid

As discussed above, the DDACS 50 can be utilized to generate and displaya digital circular that can be personalized for particular user(s) 52,and can be generated on retailer specific level. In addition to beingconfigured to dynamically select product content for the digitalcircular, the DDACS 50 can also be adapted to dynamically organize,display, as well as rearrange and/or resize product content in such adigital circular based, at least in part, in response to user 52engagement with the digital circular.

A generic representation of a digital circular 105 being shown on adisplay of an exemplary digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116 is shown in FIG. 5 . The websites of the retailers can,through the DDACS 50, be displayed on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 in a variety of manners, such as, for example,through a browser and/or a software application.

The illustrated digital advertising content communications device 116 isdepicted in the form of a smartphone that display or screen that canalso provide a user interface, at least one processor 225 (FIG. 3 )structured to execute instructions, and a memory coupled to processor225. The memory can include instructions that, when executed by theprocessor 225, can cause the processor 225 to receive from the user 52 aselection of a digital circular location. The memory can also includeinstructions that, when executed by the processor 225, cause theprocessor 225 to present the digital circular 105, and thus anarrangement of the item cards 1-11, to the end user 522 via the display.As discussed, the display can be, for example, a screen associated withthe digital advertising content communications device 116.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayreceive from an end user 52 a selection of a digital circular location.The digital circular location is associated with a retail location thatthe end user 52 requests to view the digital circular based on a currenttime frame that the user 52 executes the selection of the digitalcircular location. The digital circular location is associated with aparticular retailer, and moreover, a particular location or storeassociated with that retailer, for which the user 52 requests to view anassociated the digital circular 105. The requested digital circular fora particular retailer or retailer location can be based, at least inpart, on a current time frame and/or user location that the user 52executes the selection of the digital circular location. Further,according to certain embodiments, the user 52 can request a digitalcircular location by either selection of a specific store location of aretailer, and/or be selection of a specific retailer. In some instancesa specific retailer may have more than one physical location, with eachlocation having a digital circular associated with that particularphysical location.

As discussed above, the front end system 68 includes the ability todisplay, through the digital circular and via the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116, unique content specific to aparticular store(s) of the retailer. Such ability can permit a retailchain of the retailer to customize promotional materials for each storein its chain. The ability to display content such as a digital circular105, for viewing consumption by a user 52 also includes the use ofcookies to identify the particular digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 used in the downloading of information, and/orto identify specific users 52. The cookies can be used to identifyvarious details described herein as will be appreciated. However,according to certain embodiments, each retail location within a chain ofstores can have, or have and/or the option to have, its own website.Such individual websites can permit store specific contact informationto be published, as well as hyperlocal content to be published to anindividual store. For example, a store in one geographic location mayhave ready access to locally harvested honey sold under the brand “Bob'sHoney,” but which supply of the honey is not readily available infaraway locations of the retail chain. An individual website forseparate stores permits digital circular advertising of the hyperlocalcontent such as “Bob's Honey”, while not burdening the circulars of thefaraway stores in the retail chain with the same product that is notavailable at those particular stores.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayrequest a digital circular that includes a plurality of item cards 1-11that are created based on a plurality of item card parameters that arecustomized to the digital circular location and current time of theselected digital circular location from a dynamic digital advertisingcontent computing device based on the digital circular location. Theitem card parameters can be indicative to a presentation of each itemcard 1-11 as displayed in the digital circular, and can be customized toa retailer priority of a digital circular retailer associated with thedigital circular location to advertise to the user 52 and to a purchasepriority of the user 52 to purchase retail items from the digitalcircular retailer. Moreover, product content in the digital circular 105can be arranged in a grid like pattern in a digital circular grid 117.The digital circular grid 117 can comprise a plurality of item cards1-11 spatially positioned into a plurality of corresponding item cardpartitions or cells 117 a of the digital circular grid 117 for thedigital circular 105 to dynamically display each item card 1-11 in anitem card position and an item card size associated with each item cardpartition 117 a to prioritize the display of each item card 1-11 in thedigital circular 105 based on a plurality of item card parametersassociated with each item card 1-11. Item cards 1-11 will be understoodas a representation of a particular item to be displayed on the digitaladvertising content communications device 116.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayinstruct user interface 260 to dynamically display each item card 1-11in an item card position and an item card size associated with each itemcard partition 117 a to prioritize the display of each item card 1-11 inthe digital circular 105 based on the item card parameters. Each itemcard 1-11 is dynamically formatted with item card content to dynamicallydisplay each item card 1-11 with the item card content as spatiallypositioned in the digital circular grid 117 to prioritize the display ofthe item card content based on the item card parameters. Further,dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 may beconfigured to dynamically instruct user interface 260 to display thedigital circular grid 105 that is partitioned into the plurality of itemcard partitions 117 a, wherein each item card partition 117 a isdisplayed with a corresponding size and location in the digital circulargrid 117 thereby enabling each item card 1-11 to be dynamicallydisplayed in each corresponding item card partition 117 a based on theitem card parameters associated with each item card 1-11 in real-time.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as to each itemcard partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 is spatially positionedbased on the size and location of each item card partition 117 a and theitem card parameters associated with each item card 1-11 as the itemcard parameters are updated in real-time thereby triggering a change inthe item card partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 is spatiallypositioned. Further, dynamic digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 may dynamically instruct user interface 260 to display eachupdated item card partition 117 a included in the digital circular 105that each item card 1-11 is spatially positioned in real-time based onthe size and location of each item card partition 117 a as the item cardparameters associated with each corresponding item card 1-11 are updatedin real-time triggering a change in the item card partition 117 a thateach item card 1-11 is spatially positioned based on the size andlocation of each corresponding item card partition 117 a.

Thus, in one form, the digital circular grid 117 comprises a pluralityof item cards 1-11 spatially positioned into a plurality ofcorresponding item card partitions or cells 117 a of the digitalcircular grid 117 of the digital circular 105. Thus, each item card 1-11can be dynamically display an item card position, which can correspondto a card petition(s) or cell(s) 117 a, and with item card sizeassociated with how many card petitions or cells 117 a are to beoccupied by the cart item 117 a. Further, the products can beprioritized in terms of which card petitions or cells 117 a theassociated card item 1-11 is to occupy, and whether certain item cards1-11 for certain products are to have priority at certain card petitionsor cells 117 a over item cards 1-11 associated with other products. Theitem card parameters can thus be indicative to a presentation of eachitem card 1-11 as displayed in the digital circular 105, and can becustomized to prioritize purchase of products by the user 52 from aparticular retailer, or retailer location, associated with the digitalcircular 105.

Item cards 1-11 can represent individual products, a grouping ofproducts, a recipe, etc. Item card parameters can be set by a seller inthe back end system 70, such as, for example, via parameters related tosystem settings defined in a spreadsheet or table 20 and uploaded by theretailer, where the item card parameters dictate the size of each itemcard 1-11 and can also dictate the priority given to each item card1-11. Thus, the item cards 1-11 of the digital circular 105, asdisplayed via the digital advertising content communications device 116by the front end system 68, can include an arrangement of products ormerchandise that lists any variety of information about theproducts/merchandise, including but not limited to product name,picture, and price, among other information.

As previously mentioned, the item card parameters are indicative to apresentation of each item card 1-11 as displayed in the digital circularon the digital advertising content communications device 116, and arecustomized to the particular retailer associated with the digitalcircular location to advertise product(s) to, and entice purchasing by,the user 52. Each item card 1-11 is dynamically formatted either uponrendering and/or display with item card content to dynamically displayby each item card 1-11. Further, the item card content can be spatiallypositioned in the digital circular grid 117 to prioritize the display ofthe item card content based on the item card parameters.

The digital circular 105 is shown as having an example of an arrangementof a plurality of item cards 1-11, all of which can act in concert witheach other to display the digital circular 105. According to certainembodiments, the item cards 1-11 can correspond to product informationprovided by the above-discussed spreadsheet or table 20. Thus, forexample, referencing the example provided by the table shown in FIG. 2 ,each item card 1-11 can correspond to a row shown in the table 20. Eachrow in the spreadsheet or table 20 can thus include relevant detailsnecessary to populate the corresponding item card 1-11 when the digitalcircular 105 is displayed in a browser or software application on thedigital advertising content communications device 116 of the user 52.For example, as previously discussed, in the exemplary illustration,each row in the table 20 can include the name of the product, sale price(or related promotional value), file name associated with the graphic(or animation), alphanumeric identifier of the associated video, startdate of the promotion, end date of the promotion, and/or the size of thecell(s) 117 a that the item card 1-11 is to occupy in the digitalcircular grid 117, among other information. Further, FIG. 2 is merelyone example of information that can be provided to the back end system70, including, for example, via one or more spreadsheets 20 and/or adynamic connection(s), Moreover, the actual information provided to theback end system 70 may, or may not, include at least some, if any, ofthe particular information identified in the example spreadsheet 20shown in FIG. 2 , among other information. Thus, FIG. 2 provides anon-limiting example of information that may be provided to the back endsystem 70.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the table 20 can also includeinformation relating to whether the item card 1-11 for a product is tobe a hidden card. Such a designation can indicate that the item card forthe product is not to be displayed in the digital circular 105 unlesssome particular action is taken by the user 52, such as, for example, behidden until the user 52 selects a particular, other item card 1-11and/or selects another feature shown on the display. For example,according to certain embodiments, a hidden item card 1-11 may becomeunhidden, and thus displayed on the display of the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 in response to the user selecting arecipe option that is displayed by, or navigated to, via interactionwith the digital circular 105. In such an example, in response to theuser selecting the recipe via engagement with the user interface, therecipe, as well as ingredients for the receipt, can be displayed on thedisplay of the computing device. Such display of the recipe ingredientscan thus cause a hidden item card to become visible. Alternatively,while viewing the recipe, a hidden item card 1-11 may become visible inresponse to the user 52 selecting the associated recipe ingredient.

The dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayreceive the digital circular 105, which includes the plurality of itemcards 1-11 from the dynamic digital advertising content computing device210 that are spatially positioned into a corresponding item cardpartition 117 a of a digital circular grid 117 for the digital circular105. According to certain embodiments, in response to a user 52requesting, via the digital advertising content communications device116, a digital circular location, the front end system 68 can deliver,via channel 72, a digital circular 105 to the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116. According to certain embodiments, theresponsive communication from the front end system 68 that is receivedby the digital advertising content communications device 116 can includeincludes instructions that, when executed by the processor 225, causethe processor 225 to receive a digital circular grid 117 for the digitalcircular 105 that corresponds to a grid arrangement or format of productcontent for display on the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary digital circular grid 117comprising a six row, three column (6×3) grid, and moreover a gridcomprising eighteen 1×1 cells 117 a. As seen in the exemplary depictionshown in FIG. 5 , certain item cards 1-6, 10 occupy a single cell 117 a(1×1 cell 117 a), an item card 11 occupies a plurality of cells 117 a inwhich the number of rows occupied by the item card 11 is not equal tothe number of columns occupied that item card 11 (e.g. 1×2), and otheritem cards 2, 7 occupy a plurality of cells 117a in an equal number ofrows and columns (e.g., 2×2). The actual number of cells 117 a occupiedby an item card 1-11, and moreover the size and arrangement of the itemcards 1-11 in the digital circular grid 117 can vary, including varyduring a session in which a user 52 is interacting with the digitalcircular 116, and thus interacting or engaging with the DDACS 50.Further, while FIG. 5 illustrates generally square shaped partitions orcells 117 a in a generally rectangular digital circular grid 117, thepartitions or cells 117 a and/or the digital circular grid 117 can beconfigured to have a variety of other shapes. Thus, as will beappreciated from at least FIGS. 5-7 , the digital circular grid 117 canbe occupied with items cards 1-11, A, B of different sizes, and arrangedwith different sizes at various locations about the digital circulargrid 117.

Additionally, the sizes of the partitions or cells 117 a can bedesignated as a size having integer width and integer height, with thesum of the integer widths. For at least certain type of digitaladvertising content communications devices 116, such as, for example,smart phones, in order to adapted to the anticipated size of the displayof the computing device, the front end system 68 can be adapted to limitthe size of the digital circular grid 117, such as, for example,limiting the digital circular grid 117 to having a width correspondingto three partitions or cells 117 a. In contrast to a computing deviceshaving smaller screen sizes, the front end system 68 can also be adaptedto, for computing devices having relatively large displays, such as, forexample, desktop computing devices, be adapted to display the website ofa retailer(s) with a larger digital circular grid 117 width, and thushave additional squares to be added to at least the width of the digitalcircular grid 117, including as the size of the browser window displayedon the computing device expands. Thus, in some forms, the type ofcomputing device being used by the user can be detected by the front endsystem 68, and appropriate adjustments can be made by the front endsystem 68 to the digital circular grid 117 and/or to the number or widthof the corresponding partitions or cells 117 a.

Additionally, the size of the item card 1-11, A, B, among otherinformation regarding the format of the cards 1-11, A, B, can be set bythe retailer when configuring the digital circular 105, such as, forexample, via the client portal 128. For example, with respect to atleast certain embodiments that involve the use of uploading spreadsheets20 to the back end system 70, the retailer can specify the size of aparticular item card 1-11, A, B in the spreadsheet or table 20 that isuploaded through the client portal 128 to the back end system 70. Thus,the manner in which the size, among other formatting, of the item cards1-11, A, B is/are specified by the retailer can vary based on the manneror type of system used to provide the information to the back end system70. Moreover, according to certain embodiments, such information can,for example, be provided by a retailer via use of a user interface,among other manners or inputting or providing such formattinginformation. Further, the content can be dynamically formatted, such as,for example, via the front end system 68, to include product content inthe item card 1-11, A, B.

In some situations, the sizes of the item card 1-11, A, B set by theretailer, by another designer of the digital circular on behalf of theretailer, can inadvertently result in one or more empty spaces, such asempty partitions or cells 117 a, when all item cards 1-11, A, B arearranged as designated. For example, if all item cards 1-11, A, B aredefault to a partition or cell 117 a size of 1×1, but a few cards aredesignated in to another size, such as, for example, a 2×2 and 3×3 size,such an arrangement may result in a bottom row of the digital circular105 that has a single 1z1 item card. To resolve this issue, the frontend system 68 can be configured to dynamically format some or all of theitem cards 1-11, A, B by resizing one or more of the item cards 1-11, A,B to fit within the digital circular grid 117 such that no blank orempty partitions or cells 117 a remains. Whether an item cards 1-11, A,B is capable of resizing can depend on the preference of the retailer,which the retailer can set in the back end system 70) or otherlimitations of the DDACS 50. It will thus be appreciated that the sizeof the item cards 1-11, A, B can be fixed or set by the retailer throughthe back end system 70, or, if unspecified, can be set to a default asize (e.g. 1×1), with back end system 70 having the ability to resize ifneeded. It will be appreciated that the dynamic formatting of item cards1-11, A, B can also include resizing of any information associated withthe item cards 1-11, A, B.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayinstruct the user interface 260 to dynamically adjust the display todisplay updates to the digital circular grid 117 based on updates to theitem card content. The spatial position of each item card 1-11 asdisplayed by the user interface 260 is dynamically adjusted as the itemcard parameters associated with each item card are updated. Further,dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular as each item card1-11 included in the digital circular 105 are updated based on the itemcard parameters associated with each corresponding item card 1-11 areupdated in real-time. Each item card 1-11 changes as the correspondingitem card parameters associated with each item card change. The dynamicdigital advertising content communications device 220 may dynamicallyinstruct the display to display each updated item card included in thedigital circular in real-time as the item card parameters associatedwith each corresponding updated item card change in real-time.

The dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as a sizeassociated with each item card 1-11 in the digital circular 105 isadjusted based on the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding item card 1-11 are updated in real-time thereby triggeringa change in size associated with each item card 1-11 as thecorresponding item card parameters associated with each item card 1-11change. Further, dynamic digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 may dynamically instruct the user interface 260 to displayeach updated size of each updated item card 1-11 included in the digitalcircular 105 in real-time as the item card parameters associated witheach corresponding updated item card 1-11 are updated in real-timetriggering a change in size associated with each item card 1-11. Oncethe item cards 1-11, A, B are formatted, the item cards 1-11, A, B canbe presented in the digital circular grid 117 to the end user 52 via thedigital advertising content communications device 116. In some forms,the front end system 68 can be configured to dynamically receive andpresent updates to the digital circular grid 117 relating to productcontent that is to be shown in the item card(s) 1-A, B, and/or thespatial position of each item card 1-11, A, B as the item cardparameters associated with each item card 1-11, A, B are updated. Forexample, if a retailer makes a change to the price of a product via theinformation uploaded to the back end system 70, such as, for example, anew, supplemented, and/or modified table 20, the front end system 68 canreceive and communicate appropriate information to the digitaladvertising content communications device 116. Likewise, if a retaileradds and/or removes an item card 1-11, A, B, such as via edits orchanges to the table 20, corresponding updates to the digital circulargrid 117 can be received by the front end system 68 and communicated tothe digital advertising content communications device 116 for display tothe user 52. Still further, if a user 52 removes an item via the digitaladvertising content communications device 116 from the digital circular105, updates to the digital circular grid 117 can be made (eitherthrough a subsequent request to the back end system 70 to update thecircular 105 or processing by the front end system 68 to reflect theremoval of the item card 1-11, A, B). Additionally, if a user 52receives item cards 1-11, A, B from another user, the item cards 1-11,A, B displayed on the digital advertising content communications device116 can be rearranged.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as to the itemcard partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 is spatially positioned isadjusted based on the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding item card 1-11 are updated in real-time thereby triggeringa change in the item card partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 isspatially positioned as the corresponding item card parametersassociated with each item card change. Dynamic digital advertisingcontent communications device 220 may dynamically instruct the displayto display each updated item card partition 117 a included in thedigital circular 105 in real-time as the item card parameters associatedwith each corresponding updated item card 1-11 are updated in real-timetriggering a change in the item card partition 117 a that each item card1-11 is spatially positioned. In one example, the digital circular grid117 received by the front end system 68 at a first instance of timeincludes a first item card 1-11, A, B at a first size, and wherein thedigital circular grid 117 at a second instance of time includes thefirst item card 1-11, A, B at a second size, wherein the first size isdifferent than the second size. Such a change in size can be the resultof either the retailer setting an updated size on the back end system70, or the user 52 selecting the item card 1-11, A, B so that the itemcard 1-11, A, B can be expanded for further exposition of detailsrelated to the product that may not be present or as visible in theinitial unexpanded view. In some forms, the expanded item card 1-11, A,B occupies a 3×3 cell 117 a arrangement or space. Additionally, in someembodiments, the digital circular grid 117 at the first instance of timecan include the first item card 1-11, A, B at the first size at a firstitem card partition or cell 117 a space, and wherein the digitalcircular grid 117 at the second instance of time includes the first itemcard 1-11, A, B at the second size in a second item card partition orcell 117 a space. A re-arrangement of item cards 1-11, A, B can, forexample, be the result of the retailer updating details of the digitalcircular 105 on the back end system 70, where such updates are thenshared, such as, for example, either pushed or pulled, to the front endsystem 68 when a refresh occurs. Updated details potentially include are-sizing of the item card 1-11, A, B, and/or its inclusion in adifferent grouping of products, among other changes or modifications.

In response to receiving a selection of an item card 1-11, A, B by theend user 52, the front end system 68 is configured, via input receivedfrom the digital advertising content communications device 116, todetermine an item type of the selected item card 1-11, A, B. As will beappreciated, the item card 1-11, A, B presented on the digitaladvertising content communications device 116 can be selectable by theuser 52 through a finger press, button click, swipe of a slider, amongother engagements with a user interface of the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116, and thereafter can be expanded on thedigital advertising content communications device 116 to include otherdetails of the item cards 1-11, A, B and/or actions associated with theitem cards 1-11, A, B as will be described elsewhere herein. In someforms, the item type relates to the type of item card 1-11, A, Bassociated with the product, such as, for example, whether the item card1-11, A, B is a recipe card, or a link to a video, among other variousforms of the item types.

As will be appreciated from the description herein, the digitaladvertising content communications device 116 is further configured todynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as each itemcard 1-11, A, B included in the digital circular 105 is updated based onthe item card parameters associated with each corresponding item card1-11, A, B being updated in real-time. With such updates, each updateditem card 1-11, A, B can change as the corresponding item cardparameters associated with that item card 1-11, A, B is changed. Forexample, when a retailer choses to update parameters to the back endsystem 70, corresponding changes can be reflected in real-time ifcontent from the back end system 70 is pushed to the front end system68. The digital advertising content communications device 116 is alsofurther configured to dynamically instruct the display of the digitaladvertising content communications device 116 to display each updateditem card 1-11, A, B included in the digital circular 105 in real-time.Thus, the item cards 1-11, A, B in the displayed digital circular 105can be updated as the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding updated item card 1-11, A, B are changed in real-time.

In keeping with updates to item cards 1-11, A, B, such as throughchanges to content provided by a retailer to the back end system 70, thedigital advertising content communications device 116 is furtherconfigured to dynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 asa size associated with each item card 1-11, A, B in the digital circular105 is adjusted. Again, such changes in size can be based on the itemcard parameters associated with each corresponding item card 1-11, A, Bbeing updated in real-time. Moreover, changes in item card parameterscan trigger a change in size associated with each item card 1-11, A, Bas the corresponding item card parameters associated with each item card1-11, A, B change. The digital advertising content communications device116 can also dynamically instruct the display of the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 to display each updated size of eachupdated item card 1-11, A, B included in the digital circular 105 inreal-time as the item card parameters associated with each correspondingupdated item card item card 1-11, A, B are updated in real-time, therebytriggering a change in size associated with each item card 1-11, A, B.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as to each itemcard partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 is spatially positionedbased on the retailer priority of the digital circular retailer toadvertise to the user 52 and to the purchase priority of the user 52 topurchase retail items from the digital circular retailer, wherein thesize and location of each item card partition 117 a that each item card1-11 is spatially positioned is based on the retailer priority of thedigital circular retailer to advertise and the purchase priority of theuser 52 to purchase retail items. Further, dynamic digital advertisingcontent communications device 220 may dynamically instruct the displayto display each updated item card partition 117 a included in thedigital circular 105 that each item card 1-11 is spatially positioned inreal-time as the retailer priority to advertise and the purchasepriority of the user 52 to purchase are updated in real-time triggeringa change in the item card partition 117 a that each item card 1-11 isspatially positioned based on the size and location of eachcorresponding item card partition.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 maydynamically receive updates to the digital circular 105 as to spatiallypositioning the item card 1-11 that has a decreased retailer priorityand a decreased purchase priority in a second item card partition 117 athat has a decreased size and a decreased centralized location ascompared to item card partitions 117 a with an increased size andincreased centralized location. Item cards 1-11 with a decreasedretailer priority and a decreased purchase priority are spatiallypositioned in corresponding item card partitions 117 a with a decreasedsize and a decreased centralized location to decrease the likelihood ofbeing identified by the user 52 as displayed to the user 52. Dynamicdigital advertising content communications device 220 may dynamicallyinstruct the display to display the second item card partition 117 athat has the decreased size and the decreased centralized location withthe item card 1-11 as the retailer priority and the purchase priorityassociated with the item card 1-11 decreased in real-time therebytriggering a change to being spatially positioned in the first item cardpartition 117 a to decrease the likelihood of being identified by theuser 52 as displayed to the user 52 based on the decreased retailerpriority and decreased purchase priority associated with the item card1-11.

The DDACS 50 is also configured to update the position of item cards1-11, A, B based on whether a product associated with that item card1-11, A, B is to be prioritized, or has either an increase or decreasein prioritization by the retailer. Such prioritization of the productassociated with that item card 1-11, A, B can be based, in part, on thepurchase history of the user 52 to which the digital circular 105 isbegin generated. According to certain embodiments, such increase ordecrease in prioritization can result in an adjustment is size and/orlocation of the card item 1-11, A, B within the digital circular grid117, such that the associated item card 1-11, A, B is spatiallypositioned based on the product priority. Further, an increase inprioritization can result in an increase in size of the item card 1-11,A, B, as seen in digital circular 105 and/or placement of the card item1-11, A, B in a partition(s) or cell(s) 117 a located a higher and/ormore central location in the digital circular grid 117. Conversely, adecrease in prioritization can result in an decrease in size of the itemcard 1-11, A, B, as seen in digital circular 105 and/or placement of thecard item 1-11, A, B in a partition(s) or cell(s) 177 a located at alower and/or outer location in the digital circular grid 117. Suchupdates and changes in size and/or positioning of card items 1-11, A, Bcan be updated on the display of the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 generally in real time.

As previously discussed, the table 20 containing product content, atleast some of which is displayed via an associated item card 1-11, A, Bcan include static images, animations, and/or video. Video can beembedded directly into the front end system 68 to allow consumers 52 towatch videos on the digital advertising content communications device116 of any length, and with audio included. At least some, if not all,of such videos may be hosted by a third party such as, for example,YouTube or Vimeo, or, may be hosted directly on the back end system 70.

Information related to the video can be stored in the back end system 70as thumbnails and an alphanumeric identifier known to the videoprovider. In one embodiment the back end system 70 can query a publicfacing API associated with a video provider to pull the video and embedit in to the displayed card. In this manner the content presented on theitem card 1-11, A, B in the digital circular 105 can display a thumbnailwhen viewed by the user 52 on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116, and can thereafter be replaced with theembedded video on the digital advertising content communications device116 if the user 52 selects, via the user interface 260, the item card1-11, A, B. Specifically, a thumbnail video can be used in place of thevideo until selection by the user 52 and, when selected, the item card1-11, A, B can be dynamically re-formatted by the front end system 68 inwhich the item card 1-11, A, B thumbnail content is replaced with anembedded video.

If video is uploaded to the back end system 70, the back end system 70can be configured to compress the video into different formats usefulfor different devices and operating systems. When a user 52 scrolls tothe card designated to display the animation, the front end system 68can detect the type of device and operating system (e.g. by consumingmetadata from the browser) of the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116, and select the appropriate format. If thedigital advertising content communications device 116, including theassociated operating system, is not supported, a still image can betaken from the uploaded animation and displayed in the consumer'sbrowser on the digital advertising content communications device 116.The still image can either be designated by the user on the digitaladvertising content communications device 116, by an operator of theback end system 70 via the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116, or can be designated as an image available at a certain timewithin the animation (e.g. an image available 1 second, among othertimes, after start of the animation, or available 30% into theanimation, among other possibilities).

In response to receiving a selection of a particular item card 1-11, A,B by the end user 52, such as, for example, through use of a userinterface of the digital advertising content communications device 116,an item type associated with the selected item card 1-11, A, B can bedetermined. The item type can include whether the selected item card1-11, A, B is associated with an individual product, a family ofproducts, and/or a recipe, video, or animation. In short, severaldifferent types of item cards 1-11 are contemplated for display with thedigital advertising content communications device 116, as will beappreciated from the discussion herein.

The front end system 68 can also be configured to receive from the user52 a selection of a category selector useful to groupproducts/merchandise by category. Specifically, the item cards 1-11, A,B can be arranged into categories determined by information designatedby the retailer and stored in the back end system 70. The front endsystem 68 can be configured to display the item cards 1-11, A, B intorespective categories to which the item cards 1-11, A, B belong byactivating a category selector, or can be configured to ignorecategories if such selector is not activated. Such selection of whetheror not to segregate item cards 1-11, A, B into categories can be made bythe retailer via the back end system 70, which can be enabled by theretailer computing device 210 (FIG. 2 ), the user 52 on the digitaladvertising content communications device 116, or both. To set forth anexample, milk and yogurt and cheese can be grouped into a “dairy”category, hamburger buns and hot dog buns can be grouped into a “bread”category, and so on. The category selector is associated with a categoryselector arrangement of the digital circular 105 wherein the pluralityof item cards 1-11, A, B are spatially grouped in the digital circular105 such that a first group of items cards from the plurality of itemcards 1-11, A, B associated with a first category are spatially groupedtogether and a second group of items cards from the plurality of itemcards 1-11, A, B associated with a second category are spatially groupedtogether apart from the first group. To continue with the example fromabove, products in the “bread” category can be grouped together and setapart from products in the “dairy” category. Each of the items cards1-11A, B can have an item card parameter specifically designating whichcategory to which the item card 1-11, A, B belongs. If an item card1-11, A, B does not have an item card 1-11, A, B parameter designating aparticular group then the front end system 68 need not include it in anycategory if sorted by category by the user 52.

A user 52 can add, via the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116 a, an item card 1-11, A, B shown on the digital circular 105to a shopping list that can be viewed on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 by selecting the item card 1-11, A, B. Theshopping list can include a list of items chosen by the user via thedigital advertising content communications device 116. The shopping listcan be populated either through the inclusion of a recipe on theshopping list, or through selection by a user 52 of individual itemcards 1-11, A, B in the digital circular 105. Items can be added orremoved at will on the selection of the user 52 via the digitaladvertising content communications device 116. According to certainembodiments, the details of the selected item card 1-11, A, B can beexpanded by the front end system 68 on the display of the digitaladvertising content communications device 116, before being added to ashopping list. Further, the shopping list can be maintained on thecommunication device 116, the front end system 68, and/or the back endsystem 70.

Dynamic digital advertising content communications device 220 mayreceive a selection from a user 52 that requests an item card 1-11 to beexpanded to display item card details associated with the selected itemcard 1-11 not previously viewable in the digital circular 105 initiallydisplayed to the user 52. Dynamic digital advertising contentcommunications device 220 may dynamically instruct user interface 260 todisplay an expanded item card detail view that displays the item carddetails associated with the selected item card 1-11 not previouslyviewable in the digital circular 105 initially displayed to the user 52.The expanded item card detail view replaces the digital circular 105initially displayed to the user 52. The addition of product to theshopping list can be accomplished by the user 52 selecting, via thedigital advertising content communications device 116, an expanded itemcard 1-11, A, B (e.g. selecting a ‘shopping list’ icon, etc.). Inresponse to receiving the identification of the targeted item card 1-11,A, B selected by the end user 52, the front end system 68 can add thetargeted item card 1-11, A, B to the shopping list for that digitaladvertising content communications device 116. The front end system 68can also be configured to store a shopping list having a collection ofitem cards 1-11, A, B related to promotional items and/or hidden itemcards 1-11, A, B associated with recipes that can become viewable on thedigital advertising content communications device 116 in response to auser 52 making a selection on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 that opens or expands an associated recipe.The shopping list can be viewable on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 in a number of different manners. For example,the shopping list can be accessed through the push of a display buttonon the digital advertising content communications device 116 and/orloaded to the screen on the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116.

The front end system 68 can also enable the functionality to share ashopping list from one consumer to another consumer, also referred to asa shared recipient. Moreover, the front end system 68 can alsoaccommodate the sharing of selected items, including items selected forthe shopping list, between different user digital advertising contentcommunications devices 116, 116 a. Such sharing, can include, forexample, sharing items from the shopping list of one or more userdigital advertising content communications devices 116, 116 a. Thus,items can be selected and shared by one digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 to another other digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a, including a digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a of another, or different, user 52. In someinstances, such selection can be pushed to the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 of the user 52 by a selection, by thatuser 52 or another user, of an item card 1-11, A, B via use of adifferent digital advertising content communications device 116 a. Forexample, selections made on one digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 from a recipe can be added to, or shared with,a shopping list that is one another digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a, and vice versa.

Examples of dynamic digital advertising content communications device220 may include a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a workstation, aportable computing device, other computing devices such as a laptop, ora desktop computer, cluster of computers, set-top box, a productinventory checking system and/or any other suitable electronic devicethat will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In an embodiment, multiple modules may be implemented on the samecomputing device. Such a computing device may include software,firmware, hardware or a combination thereof. Software may include one ormore applications on an operating system. Hardware can include, but isnot limited to, a processor, a memory, and/or graphical user interfacedisplay.

The front end system 68 can also provide the ability to permit the user52 to “Proceed to Checkout” and have items from the shopping list bepurchased online and available for pickup at the store or delivery tothe home.

In some forms, a digital advertising content communications device 116 acan receive, via the front end system 68, one or more item cards 1-11,A, B that were sent from another digital advertising contentcommunications device 116, including a digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 of another user. Further, in such situations,the DDACS 50 can be configured, via the front end system 68, todynamically format the digital circular 105 shown on the digitaladvertising content communications device 116 a that is receiving theshared item cards 1-11, A, B so as to prioritize in the item cards 1-11,A, B that are being sent from the other digital advertising contentcommunications device 116. In this form, one or more functional blocksof the DDACS 50 may receive a plurality of item cards 1-11, A, Btransmitted from one digital advertising content communications device116, insert the transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B into aplurality of corresponding partitions or cell 117 a into a digitalcircular grid 117 of a digital circular 105, and communicate thatdigital circular 105 to the other digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a. Further, the DDACS 50 can be configured toinsert transmitted item cards 1-11, A, B at one or more preselectedlocations in the digital circular grid 117, such as, for example, alongthe top row of the digital circular grid 117 and/or increase a size ofthe transmitted item cards 1-11, A, B in connection with prioritizingthose item cards 1-11, A, B.

Such an example is provided by FIG. 5 , wherein a single item card 8 isshared from a first digital advertising content communications device116 to a second digital advertising content communications device 116 a,and, moreover, to a shared recipient. In this example, a user 52 haschosen to share product content, as represented by item card 8, withanother user 52, or shared recipient, by selecting such action using thedigital advertising content communications device 116. In someembodiments, a link corresponding to digital circular 150 that wasprovided to the digital advertising content communications device 116 ofthe first user can with, or loaded onto the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a, of the shared recipient, but withparticular changes relating to the reorder and/or size of the displayeditem cards 1-11. Moreover, as seen, while, with respect to the digitalcircular 105 shown on the first digital advertising contentcommunications device 116, item card 8 is positioned in a single cell117 a located on at an outer portion of a mid-section of the digitalcircular grid 117. The DDACS 50 however reformats the digital circular105 for the second digital advertising content communications device 116a so that item card 8, as seen on the digital circular 105 shown in thesecond digital advertising content communications device 116 a, isincreased in size and is positioned at the top section and/or rows ofthe digital circular grid 117 of the digital circular 105. Further, inthe illustrated embodiment, the reordering of the item cards 1-11, andassociated resizing of item card 8, can result in item card 8 beingautomatically expanded to a size associated with an expanded or detailview. It is also worth noting that item cards 1-7, 9-11 below item card8 can be resized by the front end system 68 if necessary, using any ofthe techniques disclosed herein. For example, moving item card 8 to thetop of the screen on the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116 could leave an opening or blank space at the originallocation of item card 8, as seen in the digital circular 105 shown inthe first digital advertising content communications device 116. Toavoid a blank space, any of the other item cards 1-7, 9-11 can beresized by the front end system 68 from their default or designatedposition (as determined by the configuration stored in the back endsystem 70) to be a different size.

FIGS. 6 and 7 also further illustrate various embodiments of receivingto the front end system 68 one or more item cards 1-11, A, B fromanother user. FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 , but on the basis of acategory of item cards B being shared, instead of just a single card.Moreover, the user 52 of the first digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 can select and shares all item cards in“Category B.” The category can be based on a variety of differentcriteria, including for example, a based on an indication of a categoryto which the product can be grouped, as discussed above. The linkprovided from the digital advertising content communications device 116to the front end system 68 can indicate that digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 a of the share recipient is loaded with thesame webpage, and moreover, the same digital circular 105 that wasuploaded by the first digital advertising content communications device116, but with changes to the digital circular 105 so as to rank the itemcards A, B associated with “Category B” so that item cards B appear atthe top of the webpage, and item cards A associated with a category(ies)other than “Category B” are at a lower positon in the digital circulargrid 117 and/or the digital circular 105.

Turning now to FIG. 7 , using the methodology associated with the“Category Share” function depicted in FIG. 6 , a digital media ad canuse a “category share” link when driving traffic to a webpage. Thispermits the digital media ad for “Category B” to drive traffic to awebpage with “Category B” at the top of the page, or, alternativelypermits the digital media ad to drive traffic to a webpage with“Category A”, as shown at the lower portion of the gird shown in FIG. 7.

Using the methodology previously discussed above with respect to FIG. 7, digital ads can be used by political candidates to drive traffic to acentralized webpage, resulting in the rearrangement of categories toallow each candidate's content (category) to appear at the top of thewebpage for all traffic driven by their Digital Ad Campaign. Anexpansive political unit such as a country can be divided into localregions, with groups of local regions comprising state regions, and allstate regions comprising a national region. Each local region can beassigned its own webpage. Candidates on the national level can appear inall webpages, while candidates on the state level will appear in allregions comprising that state. Candidates on the local level will appearwithin a single local region, or a group of local regions. Such apolitical marketing system adapted to the framework of FIG. 7 can beused by a single political party, with different and separate systemscreated for each different participating political party.

In one form the front end system 68 can be used to initiate a conversionof a parent item card B to a child item card A, B, wherein the parentitem card B includes item content directed to a grouping of goods, andwherein the child card includes item content directed to particulargoods within the grouping of goods of the parent card. Some item cardsA, B may be related to other cards through a parent-child relationship.For example, a parent item cards A, B may include information related toa family of products (e.g. Coca-Cola™), and through a selection of theparent item cards A, B the user 52 can be presented with a child itemcards A, B related to distinct beverages within the family (e.g. Fanta™,Barg's™, etc.). The parent item cards A, B can take on any suitable size(subject to the width restrictions described herein in someembodiments). For example, the parent item cards A, B can be a 1×1 sizecard with ‘Coca-Cola™’ text appearing in the item card A, B. Whenselected on the digital advertising content communications device 116,the 1×1 parent item card A, B can be converted by the front end system68 to a 3×3 child item card A, B. Other sizes for both parent and childitem cards A, B are contemplated.

In some forms one or more item cards 1-11, A, B in the digital circular105 is a recipe item card. The recipe card can be accessed by actionfrom the user 52 via the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116, such as but not limited to selecting the item card 1-11, A,B using a user interface of the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116. In response to receiving a recipe cardselection by the end user 52 of the recipe item card 1-11, A, B, thefront end system 70 can present a recipe item over the digital circulargrid 117 via the display. In some forms ingredients listed on the recipeitem card 1-11, A, B can correspond to other item cards 1-11, A, B inthe digital circular 105. However, in some forms ingredients listed onthe recipe card can also include a hidden item card that is apart fromthe item cards 1-11, A, B in the digital circular 105. In particular,the hidden item card, including content of the hidden item card 1-11,may not at least initially be presented to the end user 58 via thedisplay of the digital advertising content communications device 116until the recipe card selection has been made by the end user 52. Thus,information associated with the recipes can be stored in the back endsystem 70 and displayed when needed by the front end system 68. Suchinformation can include item cards for products that are not onpromotional sale in the digital circular 105, but that nevertheless areavailable for viewing if the user 52 selects the recipe. Thus, suchhidden cards can be considered ‘hidden’ until the recipe is selected bythe consumer.

The user 52 may view information displayed on the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 related to a recipes that has beenprepared by a retailer as the retailer seeks to promote ingredientsuseful in the recipe. If a user 52 selects a recipe card the ingredientscan slide out of a side of the display screen. In some forms videocontent can be embedded into the display of the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 that is viewable by the user 52. Thevideos can include a guide on how to make the recipe. If desired, theuser 52 can elect to add the recipe to a shopping list viewable on thedevice, and/or added to a cookbook also viewable on the device 116.

Pages related to the recipes can include static images, videos,instructions and ingredients, and retail products that may be added tothe shopping list of the user 52. For example, if a user 52 selects arecipe card via the digital advertising content communications device116, the user 52 can also be presented on the digital advertisingcontent communications device 116 with a choice front end system 68 toadd the ingredients to shopping list. The ingredients can be productspromoted in the digital circular 105, including, for example, as beingon sale, and/or can include products unrelated to products that arepresently being promoted.

In some forms the digital circular 105 can include content displayed inthe item cards 1-11, A, B in one language but, if selected via thedigital advertising content communications device 116 by the user, canbe changed to being displayed on the digital advertising contentcommunications device 116 in another language. Thus, the content of theitem cards 1-11, A, B can be dynamically re-formatted by the front endsystem 68 and/or the back end system 70 in which the display of thecontent of the item card 1-11, A, B in a first language is replaced witha second language. The item card 1-11, A, B content in the secondlanguage can also include a graphic having text displayed in the secondlanguage. Retailers may wish to configure the back end system 70 toprovide support for as many languages as they prefer. Such configurationof the back end system 70 can include uploading information related to afirst language as option “A” and information related to a secondlanguage as option “B.” Additional options are contemplated. Suchoptions include a title and description in a first language and similarinformation in a second language. As the table 20 may connect differentimages/animations/video with languages, changes in languages or languagepreferences can also change the images/animations/video, if any,provided in one or more item cards 1-11, A, B. A retailer may thereforeassign multiple images to a specific item card or graphical card, e.g.,if language “A” is selected image “A” is used, otherwise if language “B”is selected image “B” is used, and so on.

Once enabled, the web site can detect the language of preference set inthe user's web browser on the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116 and activate that language automatically. Users can also havethe ability to toggle from one language to through interaction with thefront end system 68 interface. As will be appreciated from thediscussion herein, any item card 1-11, A, B can be selected by a user 52on the digital advertising content communications device 116 through aswipe and/or button press, where such selection can activate the itemcard 1-11, A, B in a number of different manners. To set forth just oneexample, selecting an item card 1-11, A, B through a button push can beused to expand the selected item card 1-11, A, B to a larger size, suchas, for example, from a 1×1 size to a 3×3 size, if not already 3×3. Suchincrease in size and also be accompanied by additional information forthe selected product becoming viewable. In another non-limiting example,item card 1-11, A, B can be added to a shopping list through a buttonpush or swiping on the item card 1-11, A, B.

The memory of the digital advertising content communications device 116can include instructions that, when executed by the processor 225, causethe processor 225 to present updates to the digital circular grid, asprovided to the digital advertising content communications device 116,such as, for example, via the channel 72. Such updates can includeupdates and/or changes in the product(s) and/or product content shown inthe digital circular 105 via one or more of the item cards 1-11, and/orchanges in the spatial position of one or more, if not all, of the itemcards 1-11 in digital circular grid 117.

The back end system 70 can generate a link using a unique extensionadded to a uniform resource locator (URL) for a given retailer, orspecific retailer location, to provide the ability for that retailer toview a proof of the content and/or digital circular 105 that will bepublished in the future. The back end system 70 can also be configuredto allow a retailer to show an advertising partner proof of performanceby sharing a link to view what was published in the past, includingviewing prior content for one or more products associated with thatCPG/Vendor and/or previous versions of the digital circular 105. Such aURL can also be coded with an additional unique extension. For example,the URL used for a particular retailer can have a numeric extensionadded indicated the date and/or date range that particular content wasmade available to users 52 via the digital circular 105.

System Layout

With particular reference to the system layout 200 depicted FIG. 3 , andwith continued reference to FIG. 1 , the DDACS 50 can use severaldifferent types of communication devices (e.g. 225, 210) connectedthrough any suitable network 250. The system layout 200 has many similarfeatures as that discussed above with respect to the DDACS 50;therefore, only the differences between the system layout 200 and theDDACS 50 are to be discussed in further detail immediately below.

The illustrated dynamic digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220, which can also be referred to as the user computing device220, of a user 52, includes one or more processors 225, a memory(ies),and a user interface 260. Moreover, the user computing device 250 can besimilar to the digital advertising content communications devices 116discussed above with respect to at least FIGS. 1 and 4 . The userinterface 260 can comprise various types of input devices and outputdevices, such as, for example, a screen, display, touch screen,keyboard, and/or mouse, as well as combinations thereof, among others.

The system can also include a computing device for the retailer, whichis identified in FIG. 5 as a dynamic digital advertising contentcomputing device 210, and which, for purposes of discussion, can bereferred to as the retailer computing device 210. The retailer computingdevice 210 can includes one or more processors 205, a memory(ies), and aretailer interface. Moreover, the retailer computing device 210 can besimilar to the types of computing devices discussed above, including,for example, be similar to the user computing device 250.

The computing devices 210, 220 are capable of interacting with eachother via a network 250 and/or a dynamic digital advertising contentserver 230. In one form the dynamic digital advertising content server230 is the back end system 70 depicted in FIG. 1 . The computing devices210, 220 can thus be used to initiate and/or receive transmissionsthrough the network 250.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the dynamic digital advertising contentserver 230 can further be coupled with a neural network 240 capable ofbeing trained using input from a retailer or other user via the retailercomputing device 210 and/or from information obtained from the dynamicdigital advertising content server 230 (e.g. the back end system 70) tolearn user 52 behaviors using information received from the digitaladvertising content communications device 220. According to certainembodiments, the neural network 240 comprises one or both of the neuralnetworks discussed above with respect to the AI engine 80 and thepersonalization AI engine 100.

According to certain embodiments, the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220 can generally continuously stream item cardparameters to the dynamic digital advertising content server 230, whichcan be operated upon and/or stored in a database for further use. Indoing so, the server 230 may continuously accumulate data. Over time asthe data accumulated by the content server 230 continues to increase,the neural network 240, such as, for example, the previously discussedneural networks of the AI engine 80 and/or the personalization AI engine100, may apply the data to the associated model(s), and, moreover, theone or more neural network algorithms, in connection with the continuedlearning of the neural network 240. Thus, as discussed above, the neuralnetwork 240 can apply such data and information to one or more models,and, moreover, one or more neural network algorithms, such as, but notlimited to, a multilayer perceptron (MLP), a restricted BoltzmannMachine (RBM), a convolution neural network (CNN), and/or any otherneural network algorithm that will be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure.

According to certain embodiments, each time item card parameters arestreamed to the content server 230, the neural network 240 may assistthe retailer computing device 210 by providing the retailer computingdevice 210 with an appropriate adjustment with regard to the appropriateitem card parameters. Such an adjustment by the neural network 240,which may be based on, for example, on the above-discussed predictionsprovided by the personalization AI engine 100, can accommodate each itemcard 1-11, and thus the associated digital circular 105, beingdynamically formatted, including formatted based on predictions providedby the personalization AI engine 100 regarding the user 52 to which theitem cards 1-11 will be viewed. Thus, such dynamic formatting caninclude the selection of which products are to be presented in thedigital circular 105, the particular content for those products that isto be presented in the item card(s) 1-11 in the digital circular, and/orthe arrangement of the item cards 1-11 in the digital circular grid 117.

Again, the accuracy of the predictions of the neural network 240, andthe associated adjustments and/or selections for the formatting of thedigital circular 117, can continue to improve as the neural network 240further learns or is furthered trained using the continued accumulationof data that is provided from the front end system 68 and/or the backend system 70. Thus, the accuracy and/or efficiency in terms of at leastproduct sales and/or virtual traffic resulting from the determination ofthe item cards 1-11 that are displayed to the digital advertisingcontent communications device 220 can be further enhanced by virtue ofimproving the accuracy of customization for each user 52 of the itemcards 1-11 that are to be displayed in the digital circular 105 on thedigital advertising content communications device 220.

The neural network 240 may assist the retailer computing device 210 inlearning as to the display of digital circular 105 s based on the itemcard parameters to push to the front end system 68 based on learnedattributes of the user such that neural network 240 may further improvethe success of any given promotion as displayed by the constantlychanging digital circulars 105 that are customized and displayed for theuser. For example, the neural network 240 may receive updated item cardparameters as the user 52 engages the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220 such as, but not limited, to internet browsingactivity of the user 52. In such an example, the item card parametersmay be associated with products in the digital circular 105 that areclicked by the user 52, via the user 52 computing device 220 as the user52 conducts the internet browsing activity via digital advertisingcontent communications device 220 in real-time. Real-time may be itemcard parameters that are generated by the user 52 as the user 52 engagesthe dynamic digital advertising communications device 220 and/or anyperiod of time in which the item card parameters are generated andaccumulated. The neural network 240 can be used to identify aspects ofthe user's preferences through any one of many machine learning orartificial intelligence methodologies. To set forth one non-limitingexample, the neural network 240 can receive browsing activity as aninput, and output product preferences. Browsing history includes suchinformation as user 52 selections, via the communication device, ofproducts of interest, number of selections, frequency of selections,time of day of selections, location of selections, etc. Such productpreferences can be one of type of manufacturer and/or type of foodstuff, where such output can be pushed to a particular user's 52 digitalcircular 105, as displayed on the dynamic digital advertising contentcommunications device, where the product preferences output from theneural network 240 can be displayed. In some forms the neural network240 can also output recommended time of day for pushes of productrecommendations. In another non-limiting form, the neural network 240can receive as input browsing activity of a plurality of users 52 acrossa plurality of retailer locations, and the neural network 240 can beconfigured to output recommended products for display tied to any one ormore of individual users or retailer locations.

The server 230 can include a processor, a memory, and a networkinterface. For example, the server 230 can include a data informationsystem, data management system, web server, and/or file transfer server.The server 230 can also be a workstation, mobile device, computer,cluster of computers, set-top box, a cloud server or other computingdevice. In an embodiment, multiple modules may be implemented on thesame server 230. Such a server 230 can also include software, firmware,hardware, or a combination thereof. Software may include one or moreapplications on an operating system. Hardware can include, but is notlimited to, a processor, memory, and/or graphical user interfacedisplay.

As previously discussed, the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 is structured to select a digital circular location, whereinthe digital circular location is associated with a retail location forwhich the user 52 requests to view an associated digital circular 105.The version of the digital circular 105 that the user 52 is to receivecan, for example, be at least partially based on a current time framethat the user executes the selection of the digital circular location.While in some forms the user 52 may only be able to pick a retailer namevia the digital advertising content communications device 220 fordisplay of a digital circular, in some forms the front end system 68 canprovide the user 52 with the ability to select, via the user interface260, a given store location of the retailer. It will be appreciated thatin some embodiments a retailer may only have one location, or may onlyhave one location in a region, or perhaps has a few locations within aregion but wishes to use a common digital circular. In those situationsthe user 52 may be able to, via the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220, select the retailer by the name of theretailer, or by the retailer name and location.

When the user 52 selects, using the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220, a particular retailer or retailer location, adigital circular 105 for that selected retailer/retailer location isdisplayed, via the front end system 68, to the digital advertisingcontent communications device 220. Again, the particular digitalcircular 105 displayed can be representative of the time period in whichthe digital circular is active. For example, the moment in time at whichthe user 52 selects via the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 the digital circular 105 by, for example, selecting theretailer and/or location of the retailer, the appropriate digitalcircular for that moment in time is displayed on digital advertisingcontent communications device 220. However, in some forms the font endsystem 68 can be configured to allow the display, via the digitaladvertising content communications device 220, of past examples orversions of the digital circular 105. Additionally, and/oralternatively, in some forms the front end system 68 can be configuredto allow the display on the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 of upcoming promotions and/or product offerings. In someforms the displaying of a digital circular 105 via the digitaladvertising content communications device 220 can also include thedisplaying of contact details for the particular retailer/retailerlocation.

The DDACS 50 is also structured to receive a the back end system 70 arequest, via the front end system 68 and in response to engagement ofthe DDACS 50 of the user using the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220, a digital circular 105 be generated thatincludes a plurality of item cards 1-11 based on a plurality of itemcard parameters that are customized to the digital circular location andcurrent time of the selected digital circular location. In such anembodiment, the item card parameters can be indicative of a customizedof each card item 1-11 based on the retailer associated with the digitalcircular. Moreover, such customization may be directed to advertisingand prioritizing products in the digital circular 105 that are specificto that particular retailer. In one non-limiting example, a user 52 canselect via the digital advertising content communications device 220 acity name, and thereafter select a particular retailer or retailerlocation within that city that is associated with a given digitalcircular 105. To aid the user in selecting a desirable retailer forpurchasing goods via the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220, the front end system 68 can also display via the digitaladvertising content communications device 220 the digital circular 105in a formation such that a user can click on a map feature. The mapfeature can be configured direct the digital advertising contentcommunications device 220 to the map application on the digitaladvertising content communications device 220 where a pin, or otherlocation identifier, can be dropped in a map that is, or will be,displayed on the digital advertising content communications device 220.Selecting the pin by the user via the user interface 260 can either showvia the digital advertising content communications device 220 details ofthe retailer/retailer location, and/or redirect the user 52 to a digitalcircular 105 prepared for that retailer/retailer location. In someembodiments, the front end system 68 can also provide, via the digitaladvertising content communications device 220, the ability to call thatparticular retailer/retailer location through any variety of actionssuch as clicking a button, a hyperlink, or activating a slider. In thismanner, once requested, the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220 is further structured to receive the digital circular 105generated by the back end system 70 via the front end system 68. Such areceived digital circular 105 can include the plurality of item cards1-11 that are spatially positioned into a corresponding item cardpartition or cell 117 a of the digital circular grid 117 for the digitalcircular 105.

When the user makes a retailer/retailer location selection using theuser interface 260 of the digital advertising content communicationsdevice 220, the front end system 68 can request information related tothe appropriate digital circular 105 from the back end system 70. Such arequest can take the form of a request from an HTTP client using, forexample, and API call. The back end system 70 can be configured to serverelevant digital circular information, including, for example, thedigital circular 105, to the front end system 68 such as content that isstored on the back end system 70 in the form of a web page.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood thatwhile the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or morepreferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,“connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

CONCLUSION

In one form of the instant disclosure, DDACS 50 for displaying a digitalcircular 105 to a user 52 based on spatial positioning and dynamiccontent dynamically selected to visually organize and display aplurality of circular content items included in the digital circular105, includes: a display; at least one processor; and a memory coupledwith the processor, the memory including instructions that when executedby the processor cause the processor to: receive from an end user 52 aselection of a digital circular 105 location, wherein the digitalcircular 105 location is associated with a retail location that the enduser 52 requests to view the digital circular 105 based on a currenttime frame that the user 52 executes the selection of the digitalcircular 105 location; request the digital circular 105 based on thedigital circular 105 location; receive a digital circular grid 117 forthe digital circular 105, wherein: the digital circular grid 117comprises a plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B spatially positioned intoa plurality of corresponding item card partition or cell 117 as of thedigital circular grid 117 for the digital circular 105 to dynamicallydisplay each item card 1-11, A, B in an item card 1-11, A, B positionand an item card 1-11, A, B size associated with each item cardpartition or cell 117 a to prioritize the display of each item card1-11, A, B in the digital circular 105 based on a plurality of item cardparameters associated with each item card 1-11, A, B, wherein the itemcard parameters are indicative to a presentation of each item card 1-11,A, B as displayed in the digital circular 105 and are customized to aretailer priority of a digital circular 105 retailer associated with thedigital circular 105 location to advertise to the end user 52 and to apurchase priority of the end user 52 to purchase retail items from thedigital retailer; and each item card 1-11, A, B is dynamically formattedwith item card 1-11, A, B content to dynamically display by each itemcard 1-11, A, B the item card 1-11, A, B content as spatially positionedin the digital circular grid 117 to prioritize the display of the itemcard 1-11, A, B content based on the item card parameters; present thedigital circular grid 117 to the end user 52 via the display;dynamically receive and present updates to the digital circular grid 117with updates to the item content and the spatial position of each itemcard 1-11, A, B as the item card parameters associated with each itemcard 1-11, A, B are updated; and in response to receiving a selection ofan item card 1-11, A, B by the end user 52, determine an item type ofthe selected item card 1-11, A, B.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the digital circular grid 117received by the processor at a first instance of time includes a firstitem card 1-11, A, B at a first size (see, e.g. item 8 on dynamicdigital advertising content communications device 116 in FIG. 5 ), andwherein the digital circular grid 117 at a second instance of timeincludes the first item card 1-11, A, B at a second size, wherein thefirst size is different than the second size.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the digital circular grid 117 atthe first instance of time includes the first item card 1-11, A, B atthe first size in a first item card partition or cell 117 a, and whereinthe digital circular grid 117 at the second instance of time includesthe first item card 1-11, A, B at the second size in a second item cardpartition or cell 117 a.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the digital circular grid 117 atthe first instance of time and the second instance of time is defined byan item card 1-11, A, B grid, the item card 1-11, A, B grid having awidth defined by a number of item card 1-11, A, B squares, and whereinthe width of the digital circular grid 117 is defined by three item card1-11, A, B squares.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein each item card 1-11, A, B islimited to a minimum size of one item card 1-11, A, B square in width(see, e.g., item 1 on dynamic digital advertising content communicationsdevice 116 in FIG. 5 ), wherein each item card 1-11, A, B is limited toa maximum size of three item card 1-11, A, B squares in width, andwherein the first size has an item card 1-11, A, B square widthdifferent than the second size.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the digital circular grid 117presented to the user 52 at the second instance of time is a result ofthe user 52 selecting the first item card 1-11, A, B for expansion toprovide details not viewable in the digital circular grid 117 presentedto the user 52 at the first instance of time.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the size of the first item card1-11, A, B at the second instance of time is three item card 1-11, A, Bsquares in width and three item card 1-11, A, B squares in height.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the item card 1-11, A, B contentincludes one of a static image, a looping animation, and a video.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory also includinginstructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor toset the size of a video based item card 1-11, A, B such that the size ofthe video based item card 1-11, A, B is prohibited from being changed asa result of item card 1-11, A, B parameter updates.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory further includinginstructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor toreceive from the end user 52 a selection of a category selector (e.g. a, wherein the category selector is associated with a category selectorarrangement of the digital circular 105 wherein the plurality of itemcards 1-11, A, B are spatially grouped in the digital circular 105 suchthat a first group of items cards from the plurality of item cards 1-11,A, B associated with a first category are spatially grouped together anda second group of items cards from the plurality of item cards 1-11, A,B associated with a second category are spatially grouped together apartfrom the first group.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the first group and second groupof items cards each have a respective set of item card parameters, wherethe set of item card parameters each have an item card 1-11, A, Bparameter related to a category type (e.g., all items listed as ‘A’ and‘B’ in dynamic digital advertising content communications device 116 ofFIG. 6 can each be separate categories), and wherein the spatialgrouping of item cards 1-11, A, B is determined by the item card 1-11,A, B parameter related to category type wherein the memory furtherincluding instructions that when executed by the processor cause theprocessor to: receive a shopping list from another user 52; and inresponse to receiving a shopping list selection of a targeted item card1-11, A, B by the end user 52, add the targeted item card 1-11, A, B tothe shopping list received from the another user 52.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory further includinginstructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:receive a transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B from anotheruser 52 (see, e.g., the illustration in FIG. 6 ); and in response toreceiving the transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B from theanother user 52, insert the transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11, A,B into a plurality of corresponding transmitted item card partition orcell 117 as located at the top of the digital circular grid 117, whereinitem cards 1-11, A, B present in the digital circular grid 117 prior toinsertion of the transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B arecaused to be located below the transmitted plurality of item cards 1-11,A, B.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory further includinginstructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:convert a parent item card 1-11, A, B to a child item card 1-11, A, B,wherein the parent item card 1-11, A, B includes item content directedto a grouping of goods, and wherein the child card includes item contentdirected to particular goods within the grouping of goods of the parentcard.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein at least one of the plurality ofitem cards 1-11, A, B is a recipe item card 1-11, A, B, wherein inresponse to receiving a recipe card selection by the end user 52 of therecipe item card 1-11, A, B, present a recipe item over the digitalcircular grid 117 via the display.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein ingredients listed on the recipeitem card 1-11, A, B correspond to select item cards 1-11, A, B from theplurality of item cards 1-11, A, B (e.g. select item cards 1-11, A, B ina digital circular 105 correspond to certain ingredients), and whereiningredients listed on the recipe card also include a hidden item card1-11, A, B that is apart from the plurality of item cards 1-11, A, B,the hidden item card 1-11, A, B including item card 1-11, A, B contentnot presented to the end user 52 via the display until the recipe cardselection by the end user 52.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the item card 1-11, A, B contentof at least one item card 1-11, A, B of the plurality of item cards1-11, A, B includes a thumbnail video.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory including instructionsthat when executed by the processor cause the processor to present adynamically re-formatted item card 1-11, A, B in which the item card1-11, A, B content of the at least one item card 1-11, A, B is replacedwith an embedded video in response to receiving a video selection of anitem card 1-11, A, B by the end user 52.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the memory including instructionsthat when executed by the processor cause the processor to present adynamically re-formatted item card 1-11, A, B in which the item card1-11, A, B content of the at least one item card 1-11, A, B in a firstlanguage is replaced with an item card 1-11, A, B content in a secondlanguage.

The DDACS 50 further includes wherein the item card 1-11, A, B contentin the second language includes a graphic having text displayed in thesecond language.

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and notthe Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims.The Abstract section may set forth one or more, but not all exemplaryembodiments, of the present disclosure, and thus, is not intended tolimit the present disclosure and the appended claims in any way.

The present disclosure has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functionalbuilding blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenienceof the description. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) the variouschanges in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirtand scope of the present disclosure. Thus the present disclosure shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dynamic digital advertising contentcommunications device for displaying a digital circular to a user basedon spatial positioning and dynamic content dynamically selected tovisually organize and display a plurality of circular content itemsincluded in the digital circular, comprising: at least one processor;and a memory coupled with the processor, the memory includinginstructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:receive from an end user a selection of a digital circular location,wherein the digital circular location is associated with a retaillocation that the end user requests to view the digital circular basedon a current time frame that the user executes the selection of thedigital circular location, request the digital circular that includes aplurality of item cards created based on a plurality of item cardparameters that are customized to the digital circular location andcurrent time of the selected digital circular location from a digitalcircular generation system based on the digital circular location,wherein the item card parameters are indicative to a presentation ofeach item card as displayed in the digital circular and are customizedto a retailer priority of a digital circular retailer associated withthe digital circular location to advertise to the user and to a purchasepriority of the user to purchase retail items from the digital circularretailer, receive the digital circular that includes the plurality ofitem cards from the digital circular generation system that arespatially positioned into a corresponding item card partition of adigital circular grid for the digital circular, instruct a display todynamically display each item card in an item card position and an itemcard size associated with each item card partition to prioritize thedisplay of each item card in the digital circular based on the item cardparameters, wherein each item card is dynamically formatted with itemcard content to dynamically display each item card with the item cardcontent as spatially positioned in the digital circular grid toprioritize the display of the item card content based on the item cardparameters, and instruct the display to dynamically adjust the displayto display updates to the digital circular grid based on updates to theitem card content, wherein the spatial position of each item card asdisplayed by the display is dynamically adjusted as the item cardparameters associated with each item card are updated.
 2. The dynamicdigital advertising content communications device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is further configured to: dynamically receive updates tothe digital circular as each item card included in the digital circularare updated based on the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding item card are updated in real-time, wherein each item cardchanges as the corresponding item card parameters associated with eachitem card change; and dynamically instruct the display to display eachupdated item card included in the digital circular in real-time as theitem card parameters associated with each corresponding updated itemcard change in real-time.
 3. The dynamic digital advertising contentcommunications device of claim 2, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: dynamically receive updates to the digital circular as asize associated with each item card in the digital circular is adjustedbased on the item card parameters associated with each correspondingitem card are updated in real-time thereby triggering a change in sizeassociated with each item card as the corresponding item card parametersassociated with each item card change; and dynamically instruct thedisplay to display each updated size of each updated item card includedin the digital circular in real-time as the item card parametersassociated with each corresponding updated item card are updated inreal-time triggering a change in size associated with each item card. 4.The dynamic digital advertising content communications device of claim3, wherein the processor is further configured to: dynamically receiveupdates to the digital circular as to the item card partition that eachitem card is spatially positioned is adjusted based on the item cardparameters associated with each corresponding item card are updated inreal-time thereby triggering a change in the item card partition thateach item card is spatially positioned as the corresponding item cardparameters associated with each item card change; and dynamicallyinstruct the display to display each updated item card partitionincluded in the digital circular in real-time as the item cardparameters associated with each corresponding updated item card areupdated in real-time triggering a change in the item card partition thateach item card is spatially positioned.
 5. The dynamic digitaladvertising content communications device of claim 4, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: dynamically instruct the display todisplay the digital circular grid that is partitioned into the pluralityof item card partitions, wherein each item card partition is displayedwith a corresponding size and location in the digital circular gridthereby enabling each item card to be dynamically displayed in eachcorresponding item card partition based on the item card parametersassociated with each item card in real-time.
 6. The dynamic digitaladvertising content communications device of claim 5, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: dynamically receive updates to thedigital circular as to each item card partition that each item card isspatially positioned based on the size and location of each item cardpartition and the item card parameters associated with each item card asthe item card parameters are updated in real-time thereby triggering achange in the item card partition that each item card is spatiallypositioned; and dynamically instruct the display to display each updateditem card partition included in the digital circular that each item cardis spatially positioned in real-time based on the size and location ofeach item card partition as the item card parameters associated witheach corresponding item card are updated in real-time triggering achange in the item card partition that each item card is spatiallypositioned based on the size and location of each corresponding itemcard partition.
 7. The dynamic digital advertising contentcommunications device of claim 6, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: dynamically receive updates to the digital circular as toeach item card partition that each item card is spatially positionedbased on the retailer priority of the digital circular retailer toadvertise to the user and to the purchase priority of the user topurchase retail items from the digital circular retailer, wherein thesize and location of each item card partition that each item card isspatially positioned is based on the retailer priority of the digitalcircular retailer to advertise and the purchase priority of the user topurchase retail items; and dynamically instruct the display to displayeach updated item card partition included in the digital circular thateach item card is spatially positioned in real-time as the retailerpriority to advertise and the purchase priority of the user to purchaseare updated in real-time triggering a change in the item card partitionthat each item card is spatially positioned based on the size andlocation of each corresponding item card partition.
 8. The dynamicdigital advertising content communications device of claim 7, whereinthe processor is further configured to: dynamically receive updates tothe digital circular as to spatially positioning an item card that hasan increased retailer priority and an increased purchase priority in afirst item card partition that has an increased size and an increasedcentralized location as compared to item card partitions with adecreased size and decreased centralized location, wherein item cardswith an increased retailer priority and an increased purchase priorityare spatially positioned in corresponding item card partitions with anincreased size and an increased centralized location to increase alikelihood of being identified by the user as displayed to the user; anddynamically instruct the display to display the first item cardpartition that has the increased size and the increased centralizedlocation with the item card as the retailer priority and the purchasepriority associated with the item card increases in real-time therebytriggering a change to being spatially positioned in the first item cardpartition to increase the likelihood of being identified by the user asdisplayed to the user based on the increased retailer priority andincreased purchase priority associated with the item card.
 9. Thedynamic digital advertising content communications device of claim 8,wherein the processor is further configured to: dynamically receiveupdates to the digital circular as to spatially positioning the itemcard that has a decreased retailer priority and a decreased purchasepriority in a second item card partition that has a decreased size and adecreased centralized location as compared to item card partitions withan increased size and increased centralized location, wherein item cardswith a decreased retailer priority and a decreased purchase priority arespatially positioned in corresponding item card partitions with adecreased size and a decreased centralized location to decrease thelikelihood of being identified by the user as displayed to the user; anddynamically instruct the display to display the second item cardpartition that has the decreased size and the decreased centralizedlocation with the item card as the retailer priority and the purchasepriority associated with the item card decreased in real-time therebytriggering a change to being spatially positioned in the first item cardpartition to decrease the likelihood of being identified by the user asdisplayed to the user based on the decreased retailer priority anddecreased purchase priority associated with the item card.
 10. Thedynamic digital advertising content communications device of claim 2,wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a selection froma user that requests an item card to be expanded to display item carddetails associated with the selected item card not previously viewablein the digital circular initially displayed to the user; and dynamicallyinstruct the display to display an expanded item card detail view thatdisplays the item card details associated with the selected item cardnot previously viewable in the digital circular initially displayed tothe user, wherein the expanded item card detail view replaces thedigital circular initially displayed to the user.
 11. A dynamic digitaladvertising content method for displaying a digital circular to a userbased on spatial positioning and dynamic content dynamically selected tovisually organize and display a plurality of circular content itemsincluded in the digital circular, comprising: receiving from an end usera selection of a digital circular location, wherein the digital circularlocation is associated with a retail location that the end user requeststo view the digital circular based on a current time frame that the userexecutes the selection of the digital circular location, requesting thedigital circular that includes a plurality of item cards created basedon a plurality of item card parameters that are customized to thedigital circular location and current time of the selected digitalcircular location from a digital circular generation system based on thedigital circular location, wherein the item card parameters areindicative to a presentation of each item card as displayed in thedigital circular and are customized to a retailer priority of a digitalcircular retailer associated with the digital circular location toadvertise to the user and to a purchase priority of the user to purchaseretail items from the digital circular retailer, receiving the digitalcircular that includes the plurality of item cards from the digitalcircular generation system that are spatially positioned into acorresponding item card partition of a digital circular grid for thedigital circular, instructing a display to dynamically display each itemcard in an item card position and an item card size associated with eachitem card partition to prioritize the display of each item card in thedigital circular based on the item card parameters, wherein each itemcard is dynamically formatted with item card content to dynamicallydisplay each item card with the item card content as spatiallypositioned in the digital circular grid to prioritize the display of theitem card content based on the item card parameters, and instructing thedisplay to dynamically adjust the display to display updates to thedigital circular grid based on updates to the item card content, whereinthe spatial position of each item card as displayed by the display isdynamically adjusted as the item card parameters associated with eachitem card are updated.
 12. The dynamic digital advertising contentmethod of claim 11, further comprising: dynamically receiving updates tothe digital circular as each item card included in the digital circularare updated based on the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding item card are updated in real-time, wherein each item cardchanges as the corresponding item card parameters associated with eachitem card change; and dynamically instructing the display to displayeach updated item card included in the digital circular in real-time asthe item card parameters associated with each corresponding updated itemcard change in real-time.
 13. The dynamic digital advertising contentmethod of claim 12, further comprising: dynamically receiving updates tothe digital circular as a size associated with each item card in thedigital circular is adjusted based on the item card parametersassociated with each corresponding item card are updated in real-timethereby triggering a change in size associated with each item card asthe corresponding item card parameters associated with each item cardchange; and dynamically instructing the display to display each updatedsize of each updated item card included in the digital circular inreal-time as the item card parameters associated with each correspondingupdated item card are updated in real-time triggering a change in sizeassociated with each item card.
 14. The dynamic digital advertisingcontent method of claim 13, further comprising: dynamically receivingupdates to the digital circular as to the item card partition that eachitem card is spatially positioned is adjusted based on the item cardparameters associated with each corresponding item card are updated inreal-time thereby triggering a change in the item card partition thateach item card is spatially positioned as the corresponding item cardparameters associated with each item card change; and dynamicallyinstructing the display to display each updated item card partitionincluded in the digital circular in real-time as the item cardparameters associated with each corresponding updated item card areupdated in real-time triggering a change in the item card partition thateach item card is spatially positioned.
 15. The dynamic digitaladvertising content method of claim 14, further comprising: dynamicallyinstructing the display to display the digital circular grid that ispartitioned into the plurality of item card partitions, wherein eachitem card partition is displayed with a corresponding size and locationin the digital circular grid thereby enabling each item card to bedynamically displayed in each corresponding item card partition based onthe item card parameters associated with each item card in real-time.16. The dynamic digital advertising content method of claim 15, furthercomprising: dynamically receiving updates to the digital circular as toeach item card partition that each item card is spatially positionedbased on the size and location of each item card partition and the itemcard parameters associated with each item card as the item cardparameters are updated in real-time thereby triggering a change in theitem card partition that each item card is spatially positioned; anddynamically instructing the display to display each updated item cardpartition included in the digital circular that each item card isspatially positioned in real-time based on the size and location of eachitem card partition as the item card parameters associated with eachcorresponding item card are updated in real-time triggering a change inthe item card partition that each item card is spatially positionedbased on the size and location of each corresponding item cardpartition.
 17. The dynamic digital advertising content method of claim16, further comprising: dynamically receiving updates to the digitalcircular as to each item card partition that each item card is spatiallypositioned based on the retailer priority of the digital circularretailer to advertise to the user and to the purchase priority of theuser to purchase retail items from the digital circular retailer,wherein the size and location of each item card partition that each itemcard is spatially positioned is based on the retailer priority of thedigital circular retailer to advertise and the purchase priority of theuser to purchase retail items; and dynamically instructing the displayto display each updated item card partition included in the digitalcircular that each item card is spatially positioned in real-time as theretailer priority to advertise and the purchase priority of the user topurchase are updated in real-time triggering a change in the item cardpartition that each item card is spatially positioned based on the sizeand location of each corresponding item card partition.
 18. The dynamicdigital advertising content method of claim 17, further comprising:dynamically receiving updates to the digital circular as to spatiallypositioning an item card that has an increased retailer priority and anincreased purchase priority in a first item card partition that has anincreased size and an increased centralized location as compared to itemcard partitions with a decreased size and decreased centralizedlocation, wherein item cards with an increased retailer priority and anincreased purchase priority are spatially positioned in correspondingitem card partitions with an increased size and an increased centralizedlocation to increase a likelihood of being identified by the user asdisplayed to the user; and dynamically instructing the display todisplay the first item card partition that has the increased size andthe increased centralized location with the item card as the retailerpriority and the purchase priority associated with the item cardincreases in real-time thereby triggering a change to being spatiallypositioned in the first item card partition to increase the likelihoodof being identified by the user as displayed to the user based on theincreased retailer priority and increased purchase priority associatedwith the item card.
 19. The dynamic digital advertising content methodof claim 18, further comprising: dynamically receiving updates to thedigital circular as to spatially positioning the item card that has adecreased retailer priority and a decreased purchase priority in asecond item card partition that has a decreased size and a decreasedcentralized location as compared to item card partitions with anincreased size and increased centralized location, wherein item cardswith a decreased retailer priority and a decreased purchase priority arespatially positioned in corresponding item card partitions with adecreased size and a decreased centralized location to decrease thelikelihood of being identified by the user as displayed to the user; anddynamically instructing the display to display the second item cardpartition that has the decreased size and the decreased centralizedlocation with the item card as the retailer priority and the purchasepriority associated with the item card decreased in real-time therebytriggering a change to being spatially positioned in the first item cardpartition to decrease the likelihood of being identified by the user asdisplayed to the user based on the decreased retailer priority anddecreased purchase priority associated with the item card.
 20. Thedynamic digital advertising content method of claim 12, furthercomprising: receiving a selection from a user that requests an item cardto be expanded to display item card details associated with the selecteditem card not previously viewable in the digital circular initiallydisplayed to the user; and dynamically instructing the display todisplay an expanded item card detail view that displays the item carddetails associated with the selected item card not previously viewablein the digital circular initially displayed to the user, wherein theexpanded item card detail view replaces the digital circular initiallydisplayed to the user.